alcaide

noun

al·​cai·​de al-ˈkī-dē 

variants or alcayde

: a commander of a castle or fortress (as among Spaniards, Portuguese, or Moors)

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish alcaide, borrowed from Arabic al-qāʼid, from al "the" + qāʼid "leader, commander," noun derivative from active participle of qāda "to lead"

First Known Use

circa 1503, in the meaning defined above