[f. CAPTAIN sb. + -CY (cf. aldermancy); after infancy, lieutenancy, etc., in which the suffix, really -y, is apparently -cy.]

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  1.  The post or position of captain.

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1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xvi. The captaincy of the Tolbooth.

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1840.  Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 275. Enlisted, under Heaven’s captaincy.

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1884.  Cyclist, 13 Feb., 242/1. Mr. G. … after seven years of captaincy duties, retires from the post.

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  2.  The action or control of a captain; generalship.

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1850.  Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., i. 43. To bring these hordes of outcast captainless soldiers under due captaincy.

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1864.  Wendell Phillips, in Boston (Mass.) Commonw., 27 May. We have had neither statesmanship in the White house nor captaincy in the head quarters of the army.

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  3.  The district under the rule of a captain (e.g., in Brazil). [= Sp. capitanía.]

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1821.  Southey, Lett. (1856), III. 255. Disputes and divisions between the great captaincies will be the next step.

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