[f. CAPTAIN sb. + -ESS. Cf. F. capitainesse in sense 2.]
1. A female captain or commander. (Formerly frequent.)
1465. Marg. Paston, Lett., 502, II. 187. I had lever … to be captensse here then at Caster.
1581. Sidney, Astr. & Stella, lxxxviii. From my dear Captainnesse to run away.
1658. Ussher, Ann., VI. 354. A company of women, whose Captainesse was Archidamia, defended it.
1864. R. F. Burton, Dahome, II. 75, note. The captainesses of the life-guards.
† 2. The flagship of a fleet of galleys. Obs.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXXV. xxvi. 903. The rest of the fleete having lost their captainesse [prætoria nave amissa].
