Lit. 'the powerful'. Term used of the senior men of the great London *guilds, those who controlled their guild and with others sought to influence and control London. The word was also used of men outside London, those who were wealthy and influential, being involved in local politics and sitting on town councils. The word was sometimes used to refer to the council on which the men sat. [< Lat. potens = powerful] -
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.