"Maior" in Latin means "greater" or "older," and it was originally used to refer to a senior official in Roman municipalities. The Latin word "maior" evolved into the Old French "maire" and eventually into the English "mayor."
The connection to the Spanish word "mayor" is very direct.
The Spanish word "mayor" is also derived from the Latin "maior" through the same linguistic evolution. This means that both the English and Spanish words "mayor" share the same root and have the same meaning: a chief official of a municipality.
Here's a brief summary of the etymology:
* Latin: *maior* (greater, older)
* Old French: *maire*
* English: *mayor*
* Spanish: *mayor*
The shared origin and meaning of "mayor" in both English and Spanish are examples of how languages can borrow and evolve words from shared sources.