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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