Kapo

or ka·po

[ kah-poh ]

noun

1. a Nazi concentration camp prisoner who was given privileges in return for supervising prisoner work gangs: often a common criminal and frequently brutal to fellow inmates.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kapo¹

< German, perhaps shortening of French caporal corporal ²

Example Sentences

In its latest annual report, Estonia’s internal security service Kapo quotes the example of last autumn when hundreds of schools in Estonia and other Baltic states were sent emails claiming bombs had been placed in school buildings.

From BBC

However, KAPO, the Estonian internal security service, confirmed to ERR that companies related to the prime minister’s husband had not violated sanctions.

From Seattle Times

A Kapo was a concentration camp inmate who was given privileges for supervising prisoner work gangs.

From Reuters

I did not expect to be called a kapo.

From Slate

In his letter, Charles says that after becoming a kapo, “I was even able to help one or the other prisoner.”

From Slate