When delving into the origins of the word caucus, one can uncover intriguing potential sources. The American Heritage Dictionary proposes a connection to a Latin term meaning “drinking cup”, while the Oxford English Dictionary challenges this notion due to inconsistencies in meaning and early usage. The most plausible explanation, given its appearance in North American newspapers in the 18th century, is that it was adopted from a Native American language. One plausible candidate is caucauasu, a term in a Virginian Algonquin dialect signifying “counselor” or “adviser”. Over time, this term evolved to represent informal policy discussions among political leaders and eventually became associated with the voting process. It’s worth noting that this theory is still debated, with some unresolved discrepancies related to ship names and social clubs.
