Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Captaine, Captan(e, n. Also: captayne, -teyne; capten, -dan; caiptan(e. [ME. captayn(e, capteyn, captan, late OF. capitain(e: see Capitane.] A captain.(a) c1475 Wall. i. 97.
A captayne thair this fals Eduuard maid Ib. v. 1102.
The capteyne speryt [etc.] 1549 Compl. 5/20.
Ane verteous captain can nocht exsecut ane mair vailȝeant act a1578 Pitsc. I. 195/32.
Captaine Hendersoun … quha was captaine to the futemen of the Scoittis(b) c1475 Wall. I. 237.
The ȝong captane has fallyn with me at stryff Ib. iv. 269.
The captenys wiff, wemen, and childer thre Ib. vii. 1270.
Inglis capdans … Left castellis fre 1513 Doug. i. vi. 103.
A woman captane is of all this deid 1549 Compl. 5/19.
He hes vsit hym lyik ane vailȝeant captan Ib. 15/18.
I vas seruit lyik ane captan 1560 Rolland Seven S. 733.
Vnkyndlie captanes ouirthrawis And commoun welth doun drawis a1570-86 Maitl. F. cix. 7.
To tak my geir no captane cairis 1579 Wemyss Corr. 24.
The captane, counstable and keiparis of our castell 1615 Highland P. III. 262.
The captan of Arranattrib. 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix. 33.
There is a … kynde [of reason], that vnder cullour of a right claime playes captane play(c) 1603 Moysie 3.
That his hichnes micht appoynt sick keiperis and caiptanis … as it pleased him 1607 Maxwell Mem. II. 191.
My hummle serveis remembrit to the Caiptane ȝour howsband 1615 Melrose P. 600.
The pillats [= pilots] wha wer sent be Caiptan Bwttone