cabal
cabal (k[schwa]-balor k[schwa]-bahl). A small group of political schemers or conspirators. • The term is sometimes said to have originated as an acronym from a committee of five ministers of Charles II, whose sur-names began with C, A, B, A, and L (Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale). Though colorful, this etymology is false: the term came into English directly from the French cabale “intrigue,” which derives ultimately from Hebrew kabbalah “received lore.”
