Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a small group ruling a country, especially immediately after a coup d’état and before a legally constituted government has been instituted.
- a council.
- a deliberative or administrative council, especially in Spain and Latin America.
- junto.
noun
- a group of military officers holding the power in a country, esp after a coup d’état
- Also called: junto a small group of men; cabal, faction, or clique
- a legislative or executive council in some parts of Latin America
1620s, “Spanish legislative council,” from Spanish and Portuguese junta “council, meeting, convention,” from Medieval Latin iuncta “joint,” from Latin iuncta, fem. past participle of iungere “to join” (see jugular).
Meaning “political or military group in power” first recorded 1640s as junto (from confusion with Spanish nouns ending in -o), originally with reference to the Cabinet Council of Charles I. Modern spelling in this sense is from 1714; popularized 1808 in connection with councils formed across Spain to resist Napoleon.
A group of military leaders who govern a country after a coup d’état.