qaïd

qaïd (Arabic: قائد) is a title that literally means "leader" or "commander." The form qa'id is the masculine noun derived from the Arabic root meaning to lead. The variant spelling qaïd reflects French transliteration. The feminine form is qa'ida.

In classical and early modern usage, qa'id designated a person who leads or commands, including military leaders, tribal chiefs, or provincial governors. The term was used across the Arab world and in Islamic governance to refer to someone with political or military authority.

In North Africa, the title became a formal administrative designation. In Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, a caïd (variant transcription) is the local head of a district or community under the central government. During French colonial rule in Algeria and Morocco, the caïd was a civil administrator responsible for tax collection, law and order, and implementing government directives. The term remains in use in some states, though its precise role and authority vary by country and period.

The root also appears in other Arabic-derived terms. A well-known example is Al-Qaida, from Arabic al-qaʿida, meaning "the base" or "the foundation," a name chosen for the organization and unrelated to the administrative title.