Middle English Dictionary Entry
capitain n.
Entry Info
| Forms | capitain n. Also capitaigne, capitan, captain(e, captan, capten, chaptein. |
| Etymology | OF capitain(e; cp. also chevetaigne. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The leader of an army, a general; the leader of a rebellion; also fig.; (b) ruler, leader, master.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3741 : Was neuere capitayn [vr. capitaigne] vnder a kyng..moore pompous..Than Oloferne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.582 : A capitayn [vrr. Capeteigne, Captayn] sholde lyue in sobrenesse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2421 : In this wise thei acorden..Such Capitein, such retenue.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)66/21 : For alle þat..stonden in þis armour, Crist oure capteyn blessiþ hem.
- (1429) Proc.Privy C.3.337 : Oure said souverain Lord hath yeven..ccl speres and mlmlvc bowes..and maad, ordeined, and deputed him [the cardinal] capitaine and leder of hem.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2310 : Leonidas..merour off policie, And surest capteyn a feeld to reule & guie.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4661 : For whan to manhod prouydence is guide, And vertuous force is capteyn in the werre, Lat men weel truste.
- (1450) Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)360 : First, the Chapteyn of þe same Comyns deserith the welfare of oure soueraign lord þe Kyng.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)58 : Þe capitayne of þis rebellioun was on narces.
- (a1452) Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)365 : This was the name of the Capteyn of Kente, John Cade.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Expos.PNoster (LdMisc 683)302 : Fervent charyte be capteyn of the ffeld.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)243 : Of hem is captein the kynge Magondes.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)68 : All the men of Kent..went to her capteyne in to Sowthewerke.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1972 : Dame Avarice is noght soleine, Which is of gold the Capiteine.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)360 : Here han men seid ofte þat it were good to obeishe to Petre, and þat sich a captein were in þe Chirche.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3333 : Alcibiades, off Athene cheeff capteyn, Fro day to day wex up to gret encres..Them to gouerne bothe in werre and pes.
2.
(a) A military officer, one in command of a body of troops; chef ~, principal ~, the leader of an army; peti ~, a minor officer, one in charge of a small body or detachment of troops; also fig.; (b) the military governor of a castle or town; also fig.; (c) the commander of troops fighting aboard ships; chef ~, commander of the soldiers in a fleet; under ~, commander of the soldiers in one ship.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2771 : Ethiocles..Sette his Capteyns [vr. capiteyns]..at euery gate.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.322 : Two maner of folk..weren þe fendis capteyns in killing of martiris.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)838 : Kyngez and capytaynez kepyde hym fayre.
- (1450) RParl.5.173a : The same Tresorers to pay and delyver it to such Capiteynes and Soudeours as shall be assigned..for the defence of this youre Royalme.
- (1450) Paston2.147 : Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn and hadde x ml Frenshe men.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)89 : Þe region of ynglond hath þis seynt in so special reuerens þat þei make him a principal capteyn in her batayles and trost up on him moost aftir god.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)6 : Both thay, with many other worshipfule capitaignes, knyghts, and swyers..were slayne and takyne.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1954 : The principal Captayn or potestate..He hath his place, al to gouerne & gide.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)141 : The said commons off Caux..slowe owre capitans and soudiours.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)827 : Many pety capteyns aftyr these went, As Trew Feythe, & Hoope, Mercy, Peese, & Pyte.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1428 : To a Castell thei him ladde..Branchus..to the Capitain Was Sone and Heir.
- (1440) Wars France in RS 22.2590 : Yt is thing uncertaine..in what wise and what placis he shalle lay all soche lordis and notabille capitaines.
- (1440) Wars France in RS 22.2591 : My said lord of York may provide..notable capitaines unto the keping of the same placis and chargis.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1866 : Sir Clegis..clekes anoþer, The capitayne of Cordewa, vndire þe kynge selfen.
- (1450) RParl.5.206b : Humfrey Duk of Bukyngham, Capitein of the Toun and Castell of Calis, and of the Toure of Rysbanque.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12892 : Owther captains of castels or kepars of tounes.
- (1471) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.136 : Richard, Erle of Warrewyk..Admirall of England, Capitain of Calais, and Warden of the five Portes.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.58a : All other persones beyng in the said Tresorer's of Calice retenue..shall be obeisaunt to the Capitaigne and Lieutenaunt, and their or his Depute.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)50/3 : A capiteyn of a castel, to whom longiþ þe saaf gardyng of þe ynner warde, longiþ forto se þe saaf gard of þe vttir warde and of þe gatis.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)21b : A Capten [Monson: Captan]: Architenens, Castellanus, Castellarius.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)230/29 : The capten of þis castell ys þe Holy Gost.
c
- (1442) RParl.5.59b : There shulde be chosen and nempned viii of Knyghtes and worthy Swyers of the West, of the South, and of the North..and yerof the Kyng, oure Soveraigne Lord, chese suche on as hym liketh to be a chief Capytayne, and other vii..for to attende the saide chief Capytayne; so that every grete Shippe have a Capytayne withynne borde.
- (1442) RParl.60a : The Maisters of the Shippes, Quarter Maisters, Shipmen and Soudeours shul have half the..Goodes so taken; and oyere half..shal be departed in three, of the whiche the awners of the Shippes..shall have ii partes, and the chief Capitain and the undre Capitayns the thrid part.
- (1471) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.136 : To all Capitains, Maisters maryners, and men of Werre beyng vppon the see..greting.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1469) Paston (EETS)1.340 : My lord hath mad hym on of the capteynes at Cayster of þe pepill þat shuld kepe the wetche abought the place þat no man shuld socour them if my lord departed.
Note: Modify gloss for sense 2.(b) to add "military or quasi-military leader of a manor."