'alcalde' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-qāḍī', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'qāḍī' meant 'judge'.

'al-qāḍī' transformed into the Spanish word 'alcalde', and eventually became the modern English word 'alcalde'.

Initially, it meant 'judge', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'mayor or chief magistrate'.