gastaldo

noun

gas·​tal·​do

gəˈstäl(ˌ)dō

plural gastaldi

-(ˌ)dē

1

: the representative of a king on his domains in medieval Italy especially among the Lombards

2

: a steward in a nobleman's household

Word History

Etymology

Italian castaldo, gastaldo, from Medieval Latin castaldus, gastaldus, from a Lombard word akin to Old English gesteald abode, from ge- (perfective & collective prefix) + -steald (akin to Old English stealdan to possess); akin to Old High German hagustalt day laborer, bachelor, Gothic gastaldan to acquire, possess, Old English steall place, position, stall

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