[It.; = CAPTAIN.] A captain, headman or chief.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 283. The Præfectus otherwise called the Capitano … over all their [Venitian] forces.
1705. Addison, Italy, 136–7. The chief Officers of the Common-wealth are the Two Capitaneos.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 110. I made him a Capitano, by giving him a frock and drawers of chintz.
1847. Disraeli, Tancred, III. V. viii. 128. But the capitani of whom I speak is prince of many tails, is the brother of queens.
