Caucus, a private meeting of politicians to agree upon candidates to be proposed for an ensuing election, or to fix the business to be laid before a general meeting of their party. The term originated in America, where the caucus has taken fast root, the 'ticket,' or list of candidates for federal, state, and municipal offices, being always decided upon by the party leaders; but of late years the system has been introduced into England, and adopted by the Radicals, especially in Birmingham, though the word is there used rather for the regularly constituted party organisation. In Notes and Queries for 1885 there is a long discussion as to the origin of the word, which Sydney Smith used in 1818, and John Adams in 1763. Professor Skeat is inclined to refer it to an Indian source, Captain
John Smith (1609) having Cawcawwassoughes for the Indian councillors of Virginia, and Caucourouse for an Indian captain.