Forms: 4–5 castellin, -elleyn, 4–7 castellaine, 5–7 castelane, 7, 9 castellane, castelyn, castelain, castelan, 7– castellan. See also CHATELAIN. [ME. castelain a. ONF. castelain (mod.F. châtelain = Pr. and Sp. castellan, It. castellano):—L. castellan-us, f. castell-um castle, the current form is refashioned after L. or Sp.] The governor or constable of a castle.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 184. Of this castell was castellaine Elda the kinges chamberlaine.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 2735. The Castelleyn That of the prison was wardeyn.
1591. Garrard, Art Warre, 48. It is not lawfull for the Castellane to leaue his Castle.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 47 b.
1678. Lond. Gaz., No. 1286/2. The Comptroller and Castelyn of the Princes Hof to continue.
1684. Scanderbeg Rediv., i. 5. His Father being James Sobiesky Castellan of Cracovia.
1827. J. F. Cooper, Prairie, I. xii. 178. Obliged to constitute the girl herself castellain.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India (1845), I. 173. The castellans of the forts of Kalinjar and Ajaygerh.
1876. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 1 (1882), 129. The piety of the Norman Castellans rebuilt almost all the parish churches of the city [Oxford].
Hence Castellanship.
1764. Caledonian Mercury, 13 Oct., 498/2. Count Branicki … had resigned the command of the Crown army; but had retained the Castellanship of Cracow.
1885. J. H. Round, in Dict. Nat. Biog. IV. 33/1. He was … restored to his shrievalty and castellanship.
