capitain

Middle English

Alternative forms

capteyn, captein, capitein, capitayn, capeteigne, captayn, capitaigne, capiteine, capiteyn, capytayn, capitan

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French capitaine, borrowed itself from Late Latin capitāneus. Doublet of cheveteyn.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /kap(ə)ˈtɛi̯n(ə)/, /kaːp(ə)ˈtɛi̯n(ə)/, /ˈkap(ə)tin(ə)/

Noun

capitain (plural capitaines)

The head of a military grouping or force; a general or marshal.
An officer; one who commands part of a military force or army.
(rare) The leader of a nation or a political division; a high-ranking politician.
(rare) One who leads military forces at sea.

Related terms

Descendants

English: captain
Scots: caiptain

References

“capitain (n.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-09-14.

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