[f. CAPTAIN sb. + -SHIP.]
1. The office, position, authority or rank of a captain; commandership; leadership.
c. 1465. Eng. Chron. (Camd. Soc.), 79. To dyscharge hym [Capteyn of Calcys] of the capteynshyppe.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., xxxiii. § 25. The Captainshippe of the Castell of Aberwstoyth.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 234 a. He was putte from the capitaineship of a compaignie of horsemen.
1643. Prynne, Power Parl., II. 63. The Earle of Warwick was elected to the Captainship of Calice.
1752. Carte, Hist. Eng., III. 223. The captainship of the Scotch Guards.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., II. 150. A still more terrible host, called the Great Company…. This company, then under the captainship of Lando, a German.
2. The dignity or personality of a captain. humorous; cf. lordship.
1611. Barrey, Ram Alley, in Hazl., Dodsley, X. 324. Is this the fittest place Your captainship can find to puff in?
1612. Chapman, Widowes T., in Dodsley (1780), VI. 224. Your Captainship commands my service no farther.
c. 1817. Hogg, Tales & Sk., VI. 154. I advise your lordship, your captainship, and your besiegership.
3. A district under the rule of a captain.
[transl. Sp. & Pg. capitania.]
1680. Morden, Geog. Rect. (1685), 258. The Portugueses enjoy … the Captainships of Para, [etc.].
1825. Waterton, Wand. S. Amer., II. ii. 173. He has been shot south of the line, in the captainship of Para.
4. Skill in performing the part of captain or leader, ‘skill in the military trade’ (J.).
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. xiii. 8. The itch of his Affection should not then Haue nickt his Captain-ship.
