muqaddam
/mʊˈkadəm/noun
In South Asia (and occasionally elsewhere): a headman, a local chief.
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in William Phillip (fl. 1596–1619), translator. From Urdu and Persian muqaddam headman of a village, and their etymon Arabic muqaddam, passive participle of qaddama to place in front.