baron

1. (by extension) A person of great power in society, especially in business and politics.Examples: "There were a few exotics among them — some South American boys, sons of Argentine beef barons, one or two Russians, and even a Siamese prince, or someone who was described as a prince."; "British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far."Synonyms: magnate, tycoon, baron, big cheese, big enchilada, big gun, big kahuna, big manbroadly

2. (UK, prison slang) A prisoner who gains power and influence by lending or selling goods such as tobacco.Examples: "The first thing a baron does is to accumulate a supply of tobacco. He spends every penny he can earn on laying it in […]"; "Nevertheless, from my own agonies of the first few months, after which I did not miss smoking at all, I could appreciate the need of others. It was in this atmosphere of craving that the 'barons' thrived. Barons are prisoners who lend tobacco."; "In British prisons tobacco still remains the gold standard which is made to back every transaction and promise. The official allowance is barely sufficient for individual smoking needs, but tobacco may expensively be borrowed or bought from a baron, possibly through his runner."UKslang

3. (law, obsolete) A husband.Examples: "baron and femme"obsolete