(1) a captain of thieves (named for the character from Miguel de Cervantes' novella _Rinconete y Cortedillo_);
(2) someone who uses unfair business practices to squeeze out a rival (17th century Spain)
(2) someone who uses unfair business practices to squeeze out a rival (17th century Spain)
When Burgos's interests succeeded briefly in curbing Bilbao's participation in wool export to Bruges, outraged Bilbaino merchants and shippers immediately labeled the action with the current epithet, monopodio. (from Stein's _Silver, Trade, and War_ p. 15)
by Mr. Badger January 29, 2012