Topil
/ˈtoʊ.pɪl/noun
A minor local official or village constable in Mexico.
Did you know?Topil comes from Nahuatl topilli, meaning a staff or rod, connecting public office with the traditional visible symbol of delegated authority.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Nahuatl
topilli
“Staff, rod, or ceremonial staff of authority”
16th Century
Colonial Spanish
topil
“Indigenous local official or attendant, borrowed from Nahuatl”
19th Century
Mexican Spanish
topil
“Village officer responsible for duties such as maintaining order or serving summonses”
20th Century
English
topil
“A minor official or village constable in Mexico”
Modern English
English
topil
“A local Mexican official, especially one performing administrative or police-related duties”