capitano

noun

ca·​pi·​ta·​no
ˌkapəˈtä(ˌ)nō
plural capitani
-ä(ˌ)nē
or capitanos
: a vainglorious and cowardly soldier especially appearing as a stock character in the commedia dell' arte

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, captain, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin capitanus foremost, chief, from Latin capit-, caput head

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Dictionary Entries Near capitano

Cite this Entry

“Capitano.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitano. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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