Honcho is an English word that came through Japanese. It is generally traced to hancho, a Japanese term meaning group leader or squad leader.
When the word entered English, its meaning shifted a little. Instead of referring to a specific kind of leader within a group, honcho became an informal way to mean the boss, the person in charge, or a leader more generally.
For example, someone might say, She is the head honcho in our office. In that sentence, head honcho means the top decision maker. English speakers often use the word in casual speech, and sometimes with a slightly playful tone.
This is a good example of how borrowed words can change after entering English:
- Japanese: hancho = group leader
- English: honcho = boss, leader, person in charge
So the word kept its basic idea of leadership, but English broadened its use and made it more informal.