capitano Italian · revision 37848

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1253, Sienese letter|origins=la caput}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ka.piˈta.no/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''capitano''' ''m'' (plural capitani, feminine (rare or humorous) capitana)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian also had ''capitanio'', ''capitaneo'' and ''capetano''.^(TLIO)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*capitānus|t=chief, principal]], formed from [[la|caput|t=head]] (genitive ⟨capitis⟩); Late Latin had the similar [[m|la-lat|capitāneus|t=outstanding in size]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) The LEI counts this Vulgar Latin form as unrecorded but certain, since it continues in Engadine and Old Occitan as well as in Italy.^(LEI|11, 10) The form [[capitaneo]], used for administrative and military offices, goes back to Carolingian [[la-med|capitaneus]], recorded in 798.^(LEI|11, 1) In the feudal system the word meant the chief holder of a fief, and the syncopated [[roa-oit|cattano]] “lord of a castle” and [[fro|chevetain]] (the source of English [[m|en|chieftain]]) keep that sense.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Prati 1951|229)

+

+ Nocentini says the Italian word gave [[fr|capitaine]], [[es|capitán]], [[pt|capitão]] and [[ro|căpitan]].^(Nocentini 2010) The Byzantine title [[grc|κατεπάνω|tr=katepánō|t=the one placed above]] was latinised in southern Italy and blended with the word; it survives in the name of the Capitanata in Apulia.^(LEI|11, 10)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is a Sienese letter of 1253.^(TLIO) DELI's oldest sense, from Ugieri Apugliese in the first half of the 13th century, is a title of the vassals of important country places, and the TLIO's first sense is “feudal noble”.^(DELI 1999)^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian used the word for the commander of an army or band, and for the officer who governed a city or commune, as the ''capitano del popolo''.^(TLIO)^(GRADIT 2003) It was also an adjective, “chief, principal”, from Brunetto Latini (before 1294) until the 16th century.^(DELI 1999) The general sense “leader, guide” is in Cenne da la Chitarra before 1336, the ship's master in Piovano Arlotto before 1484, and the commander of a company of soldiers in Annibal Caro before 1566.^(DELI 1999) The commedia dell'arte had the boastful soldier ''Capitano'' (''Capitan Spaventa'', ''Capitan Fracassa''), and in sport the captain is the player who speaks for the team.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DIFIT)

+

+ German took ''Capitano'', ''Kapitän'' in the 15th century, partly from Italian and partly from French;^(DIFIT) English has ''capitano'' from 1611.^(DIFIT) ''Capitanare'' “to lead as captain” is in Giovanni Villani before 1348.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * First half of the 13th century – Ugieri Apugliese uses ''capitano'' for a rural vassal.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1253 – A Sienese letter has the word.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1336 – Cenne da la Chitarra uses it for “leader”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – Villani uses ''capitanare''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1484 – Piovano Arlotto uses it for a ship's master.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1566 – Annibal Caro uses it for a company commander.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1611 – English ''capitano'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The leader of an army, ''capitano di ventura'', a [[m|en|condottiere]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(TLIO)

+ # A [[m|en|captain]], the army officer who commands a company; in the air force, the commander of a squadron.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # The master of a ship, ''capitano di lungo corso'', a master mariner.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(historical)'' In the Middle Ages, the governor or military chief of a city.^(GRADIT 2003)^(TLIO)

+ # ''(theatre)'' The boastful soldier of the [[commedia dell'arte]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(DIFIT)

+ # A leader, a person of standing, ''capitano d'industria'', a captain of industry.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(sport)'' The captain of a team, who deals with the referee.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[capitana]]

+ * [[capitanare]]

+ * [[capitaneria]]

+ * [[capitanato]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[capo]]

+ * [[capitale]]

+ * [[cattano]]

+ * [[la|caput]]

+ * [[fr|capitaine]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The feminine ''capitana'' is rare or humorous; it was once also the flagship of a squadron.^(Wiktionary)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}