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

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near capitano

Cite this Entry

“Capitano.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitano. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!