caucusn.
/ˈkɔːkəs/, U.S. /ˈkɔkəs/, /ˈkɑkəs/ 1. In the United States (originally colonial).† a. Apparently: a group or faction of community leaders that meets in private to coordinate their votes so as to control election outcomes. Also: the meeting of such a group. Obsolete rare.
ΚΠ
1760 Boston Gaz. 5 May (Suppl.) It is reported, that certain Persons..are called by the Name of the New and Grand Corcas.
1788 W. Gordon Hist. Independence U.S.A. I. 365 More than fifty years ago, Mr. Samuel Adams's father, and twenty others.., used to meet, make a caucus, and lay their plan for introducing certain persons into places of trust and power.
b. A private meeting of elected representatives or political operatives to select candidates for office before a party convention or election. Sometimes in extended use. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > [noun] > party machine > types of control of > meeting
caucus1800
1800 Pittsburgh Gaz. 5 July It is stated in the Herald of Liberty of Monday the 30th ult. that ‘a Caucus of Federalists was holden at Pittsburgh last week, to determine who should be the Candidates at the ensuing election.’
1809 E. A. Kendall Trav. Northern Parts U.S. I. xv. 174 A caucus is a political, and what is in practice the same thing, a party meeting; but it is not a popular meeting..It is in caucuses that it is decided, for whom the people shall be instructed to vote, and by what course of politics the party may be secured.
1872 J. R. Lowell in N. Amer. Rev. July 188 In the Greek epic, the gods are partisans, they hold caucuses, they lobby and log-roll for their candidates.
1925 Polit. Sci. Q. 40 389 Senator Benton went to the legislature and persuaded the members to hold a caucus, at which..it was determined that it was inexpedient to make any nomination.
2005 Montana Mag. Western Hist. 55 21/1 The night before the assembly, Republicans..held a caucus at the Placer Hotel.
2.
a. In the United States and some other countries: a (typically private) meeting of members of a legislative body who belong to a particular party or faction; in caucus: at such a meeting. house caucus, party caucus, etc.: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > [noun] > party machine > types of control of > committee
caucus1802
national committee1847
1802 Port Folio 30 Jan. 31/2 The majority now regulate their proceedings at Caucuses; and while they permit our side to talk, they remain silent and vote us down.
1820 Maryland Gaz. & Polit. Intelligencer 19 Oct. Whatever may be the opinions of members, when they assemble in caucus to regulate the vote of the democratic part of the legislature, the interests of Baltimore have uniformly prevailed.
1859 Geelong (Austral.) Advertiser 24 Mar. O'Shanassy and all his other colleagues held a caucus, and determined to resign en masse, with a view to a fresh combination, excluding Ireland.
1935 Dominion (Wellington, N.Z.) 17 Sept. 12 Nothing has yet been decided about calling a caucus of the National Party to discuss the Budget.
1974 R. A. Caro Power Broker iii. vii. 122 Murphy had the Democratic caucus elect Smith majority leader of the Assembly.
1982 R. Sheppard & M. Valpy National Deal v. 96 The Vancouver consensus amending formula..had the most support in caucus.
2005 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 5 May a22/2 With elected western voices in cabinet and caucus, would the Trudeau government have proceeded with its unity-sapping national energy program?
b. gen. A meeting held independently or in private by a group within a larger organization or institution to discuss strategy or tactics. Now rare.The reference of quot. 1832 is uncertain: it may belong to sense 3a.
ΚΠ
1832 J. Herbert Let. 15 Apr. in C. Darwin Corr. (1985) I. 224 The Septett thrives; and the Caucus is getting on very well— We have just had a severe contest for the Registraryship which has fallen vacant by the death of Hustler, between Romilly of Trinity, and Chevallier. It was made to a great extent a Party Question.
1836 Times 19 Sept. 4/3 The pride of the people of England..would be equally revolted by the suspicion that the destiny of her whole life had been pre-disposed of..by a clandestine family caucus.
1896 Harper's Mag. Mar. 583 It was the mothers did the heavy work: and by ten o'clock some unsolved problems grew so delicate that a ladies' caucus was organized in a private room—no admittance for men.
2003 North Devon Jrnl. (Nexis) 12 June 43 The Lib Dems held a secret caucus before the council met and brazenly divided all the spoils of office between themselves.
c. In some states of the U.S.: a process of selecting delegates to vote for a candidate to be a political party's nominee that is open to all registered members of the party in a particular precinct, county, etc.; (also) the gathering at which this selection takes place. The Democratic Party reformed its caucus procedures in 1972 to open caucuses to all registered Democrats. The Republican Party adopted similar rules shortly thereafter. In addition, many states passed laws to replace caucuses with primary elections.precinct caucus: see the first element.
ΚΠ
1972 Lima (Ohio) News 10 Jan. 19/3 The caucus is open to all Democratic party members in the 4th District.
1992 Economist 7 Mar. 43/3 He did surprisingly well in the Washington state caucuses.
2003 N.Y. Mag. 13 Oct. 73/3 De-emphasize the January Iowa and New Hampshire slug-outs, and concentrate on the seven primaries and caucuses below the Mason-Dixon line.
2012 N. Silver Signal & Noise xi. 333 I wrote on my blog that I thought Rick Santorum would win the Iowa caucus.
3.
a. British. Any committee or group, esp. within a political party, regarded as seeking to manipulate or influence political activity. Often with pejorative connotations. Now rare or merged with sense 3b.In quot. 1878 representing a transferred use of sense 1b, with the implication that this marked the introduction of the American system into English politics. N.E.D. (1889) states: ‘In English newspapers since 1878..applied opprobriously to a committee or organization charged with seeking to manage the elections and dictate to the constituencies, but which is, in fact, usually a representative committee popularly elected for the purpose of securing concerted political action in a constituency. It was first applied in 1878, by Lord Beaconsfield and the Times newspaper, to the organization of the Birmingham Liberal ‘Six Hundred’, and thence to those which were speedily formed on its model elsewhere... Such organizations have since been, in one form or another, adopted by all parties; and caucus is now a term which partizans fling at the organizations of their opponents, and disclaim for their own.’
ΚΠ
1822 Times 9 Oct. Mr. Young, upholsterer, and Mr. Henderson, grocer, were destined, it seems, to the honours of the magistracy by the secret Caucus which presides over the resolutions of the council.
1878 Times 31 July 10/4 The policy of the politicians of the Midland capital will bring upon us the ‘caucus’ with all its evils..The introduction and progress of the ‘caucus’ system among us.
1932 Times 14 Mar. 9/4 The National Government was fast becoming a Tory caucus.
1950 Financial Times 4 Mar. 4/5 The whole process becomes pointless when any industry, at any time, is liable to be scheduled for State ownership on the arbitrary and quite unpredictable decision of a political caucus.
b. Originally U.S. Any group within a larger organization or institution that meets independently or in private to discuss strategy or tactics. Also: the members of a legislative body who belong to a particular party or faction, regarded collectively.Recorded earliest in black caucus n. at black adj. and n. Compounds 1e(a).
ΚΠ
1964 Amer. Sociol. Rev. 29 233/1 A relatively new organization, the all-Negro Trade Union Leadership Council (TULC), constitutes a ‘black caucus’ of approximately 9,000 Negroes.
1969 C. Wittman in Liberation (1970) Feb. 19/2 The existence of a lesbian caucus within the New York Gay Liberation Front has been very helpful in challenging male chauvinism among gay guys.
1970 Jrnl. Brit. Astron. Assoc. 80 191 Meteoritic interpretations are inculcated into American scientists from an early age, and there is a very influential caucus in the councils of space-science which has tended to stifle the opposing viewpoint.
2000 Cape Times 19 July i. 5/8 Speaking on behalf of the ANC caucus, Mzukisi Gaba said he did not know any of the names of the women who would be speaking at the festival.
2012 L. Weiner Future of our Schools v. 77 If you have an unmovable union leadership that's fighting change, it's probably wise to form a caucus with other members who share your concerns.
2015 New Yorker 14 Dec. 30/1 Mark Meadows..is one of the more active members of the House Freedom Caucus, an invitation-only group of about forty right-wing conservatives that formed at the beginning of this year.
Compounds
C1. General attributive (in various senses).
ΚΠ
1762 O. Thacher in Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1884) 20 48 The connections & discords of our politicians, corkusmen, plebeian tribunes, &ca.
1763 J. Adams Diary Feb. (1961) I. 238 This day learned that the Caucas Clubb meets at certain Times in the Garret of Tom Daws.
1824 Niles' Weekly Reg. 20 Mar. 39/1 They would oppose the caucus nomination.
1842 H. Mann Oration before Authorities City of Boston 2/2 Our National Songs, our Fourth of July Orations, and Caucus Speeches.
1879 G. Campbell White & Black in U.S. 63 The caucus system which prevails in America in regard to elections.
1900 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 16 Apr. 5/7 (heading) Protestant Caucus Meeting.
1931 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 25 645 A number of changes were agreed upon at a caucus meeting.
1964 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 5 June (1970) 154 A standing-room rally in the Senate caucus room.
2017 Daily Herald-Tribune (Grande Prairie, Alberta) (Nexis) 23 Mar. a4 Kenney asked him to remain as the caucus whip.
C2.
caucus-goer n. U.S. a person who attends a caucus, esp. one who is eligible to vote for nominees, resolutions, etc. Recorded earliest in non-caucus-goer. Somewhat rare before the late 20th cent. See the first note at sense 2c.
ΚΠ
1880 Pennsylvania School Jrnl. Jan. 272/2 The City Council is about to begin economizing by a further reduction of the salaries of non-voters and non-caucus-goers.
1996 D. M. Oldfield Right & Righteous iii. 83 Candidates must broadcast their message to a wide audience of potential primary voters or caucus-goers.
2008 Atlantic Monthly Sept. 70/1 But the lingering contrast with Obama did not favor her, particularly among Iowa's liberal caucus-goers.
Derivatives
ˈcaucusdom n. rare the realm or sphere of caucuses or caucusing.
ΚΠ
1882 Vanity Fair 18 Mar. 145/2 You have bowed before Birmingham, and have made the Head-Centre of Caucusdom a Cabinet Minister.
1933 Comm. Austral. (Sydney) 24 May 1/3 Let us try to imagine for a minute where New South Wales would have been, by now, if..the cohorts of caucusdom could have defeated the Referendum.
caucuˈseer n. rare a member or attendant of a caucus.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > [noun] > party machine > types of control of > one who
jefe politico1820
caucuser1823
wire-puller1824
machine-man1834
wire-worker1835
cacique1872
boss1882
caucuseer1884
caucusian1886
1884 Sat. Rev. 9 Feb. 169/1 Their own placemen and Caucusseers.
1999 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 18 Oct. a3 NDP caucuseers expect Joy MacPhail to declare her party-leadership intentions this week.
ˈcaucuser n. rare a member or attendant of a caucus.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > [noun] > party machine > types of control of > one who
jefe politico1820
caucuser1823
wire-puller1824
machine-man1834
wire-worker1835
cacique1872
boss1882
caucuseer1884
caucusian1886
1823 Niles' Weekly Reg. 18 Oct. 101 The danger of a choice..would not be dreaded, even by..the great caucussers of the day.
1952 Sun (Baltimore) 26 July 8/3 Would the Democrats name him? The caucusers had no doubts.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > [noun] > party machine > types of control of > one who
jefe politico1820
caucuser1823
wire-puller1824
machine-man1834
wire-worker1835
cacique1872
boss1882
caucuseer1884
caucusian1886
1824 National Advocate (N.Y.) 10 June We suggest for the consideration of Mr. Van Buren and his caucussian associates, the propriety of convening another session of congress.
1886 Sat. Rev. 5 June 773/2 Peace and good-will even among Caucussians.
1888 Sat. Rev. 21 Mar. 375/2 Nothing Caucusian is alien from Mr. Chamberlain.
1922 F. Clarke tr. M. Ostrogorski Democracy & Organization of Polit. Parties I. ii. ix. 312 Impugning the character and the past of the Liberal Federation, the paper showed that the ‘Caucusians’ were only sham democrats, impostors.
ΚΠ
1885 Parl. Deb. 3rd Ser. 298 659 They [sc. the Peers] did not inhale the mephitic and Caucusified atmosphere which ‘elsewhere’ numbed the senses and paralyzed independent action.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
caucusv.
/ˈkɔːkəs/, U.S. /ˈkɔkəs/, /ˈkɑkəs/ Originally and chiefly U.S.
1. Politics.† a. transitive. To bring (a nomination) before a caucus so that it may be debated and consensus formed about it. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1776 J. Adams Let. 12 May in Papers (1979) IV. 182 For Gods Sake Caucass it, before Hand, and agree unanimously to push for the Same Man.
b. transitive. To use a caucus or caucuses to manoeuvre (a political candidate) into office, or to influence or control (a political candidate, voter, etc.). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > involve in party politics [verb (transitive)] > control party machine
wire-pull1780
wirework1814
caucus1816
1816 Examiner 1 Jan. 51/2 It is well known, that Mr. Jefferson selected Mr. Madison for his successor, and had him in due form caucussed into the presidency.
1848 Niles' National Reg. 2 Aug. 76/3 Nobody can suppose that a man can be caucused or conventionised out of his principles.
1885 St. James's Gaz. 27 Nov. 3 They were to be caucussed, gerrymandered and bullied into silence by a pack of provincial wirepullers.
1945 Hartford (Connecticut) Courant 27 Sept. 1/1 Before Mr. Lee could close the proceedings Attorney Harold Borden, Fourth Ward chairman, made a loud assault on ‘outside’ forces whom he charged with invading his ward to caucus him.
2014 Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana) 5 Nov. a4/4 This will be the first full elected term for both Dietz and Yoder, who were caucused into their positions by the Democratic Party.
2. Politics.
a. intransitive. With for. To attend a caucus at which candidates for office are selected as a supporter of a particular individual. Originally only a private group of community leaders, elected representatives, or political operatives attended such caucuses. In the 1970s the Democratic and Republican parties opened their caucuses to all registered members, though caucuses have since been replaced by primary elections in many states.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > association for a common purpose > meeting or assembling for common purpose > meet or assemble for common purpose [verb (intransitive)] > have specific type of meeting
cabala1680
caucus1808
hugger-mugger1862
1808 Pittsburgh Gaz. 26 Jan. We understand the Jeffersonians at Washington are caucussing unremittedly for Mr. Madison.
1854 J. Knorr Two Roads 94 A great number, if not the majority of candidates for subordinate offices of public trust, are nominated and caucused for in bar-rooms and porter-houses.
1912 Union Postal Clerk (Chicago) Aug. 16/1 Members of the mailing division went down to the meeting after caucusing for Bro. Bambrough, who was elected after one ballot.
1988 Economist 30 Apr. 31/2 Instead of caucusing for a candidate, many insist on sub-caucusing for an issue: opposition to abortion, a nuclear freeze,..you name it.
1992 NPR: Morning Edition (transcript of radio programme) (Nexis) 4 Mar. Democrats in both states held caucuses last night. Seattle resident Henry Butler caucused for Tsongas because he feels the former Massachusetts senator is telling the truth.
2016 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 13 Jan. a13/1 Many of them, still unsure, rebuffed Clinton aides trying to get them to sign ‘commitment cards’ to caucus for her.
b. intransitive. Esp. of legislators: to hold or form a caucus, esp. in order to debate a nomination, bill, etc., in private. Also in later use: to coordinate and vote with a party, faction, etc., without being a member.
ΚΠ
1809 Supporter (Chillicothe, Ohio) 23 Dec. The members of the majority..do not yet assemble in general caucuses, but are continually caucusing in squads.
1837 J. G. Whittier in S. T. Pickard Life & Lett. J. G. Whittier (1894) I. 199 We have caucused in season and out of season.
1850 T. Carlyle Latter-day Pamphlets i. 24 Men that sit idly caucusing and ballotboxing on the graves of their heroic ancestors.
1893 Sun (Baltimore) 5 Jan. 6/5 Burke, the non partisan, who caucused with the democrats.
1919 World Almanac & Encycl. 1920 728/2 House Democrats caucused and elected Champ Clark the minority leader.
1948 Calif. Hist. Soc. Q. 27 314 The delegates from the sixth congressional district caucused and nominated Marion Cannon for congress.
2017 Guardian (Nexis) 11 Apr. He represents deeply conservative orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and often caucuses with Republicans.
3. intransitive. gen. To meet privately to discuss strategy or tactics; to confer in private.
ΚΠ
1819 D. Parker Proscription Delineated ii. 82 The same being at whose house he had tarried and caucused the preceding night.
1864 N.-Y. Daily Tribune 27 May 8/1 The 68th Regiment of Colored Troops..caucused a few nights since, and one of them reported the next morning to his officer..that it was not ‘their business to take prisoners in battle, but only to kill Rebels.’
1914 Southwestern Reporter 169 295/2 If you go to caucusing with old Jim Click, I will kill you. God damn you.
1986 S. Churcher N.Y. Confidential xii. 287 He arranged for him to meet with one of the DIA's top Mideast officials. The two caucused twice, but in the end no mission came out of it.
2015 D. M. Powers Damnable Heresy ii. 12 Two teams appointed the previous afternoon to present the arguments on either side had been caucusing since seven a.m.
Derivatives
ΚΠ
1885 Sat. Rev. 14 Mar. 329/1 Counties, now hardly by any means caucusable, are to be brought under the operation of the Caucus.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1760
v.1776