alcaide

Definition

The governor or commander of a Spanish or Portuguese fortress or prison.

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish alcaide, from Arabic الْقَائِد (al-qāʔid, “leader”); Doublet of caid and Alkaid.

Example Sentences

• "Soon after Mr. Petticrew arrived at Gibraltar, he came to Tetuan in his majeſty's ſhip Seahorſe, to acquaint the alcaide that he had orders from the king of Great Britain,[…]."
• "1810, John Joseph Stockdale (editor and publisher), The History of the Inquisitions, extract published in 1810, The Literary Panorama, and National Register, Volume 8, page 219, It was, above all, to the alcaide and the guards of the prisoners that he studied to recommend himself."
• "The municipal bodies were charged regularly to inspect the prisons; to watch over the conduct of the alcaides, and the inferior officers; and to propose to the government such measures as they judged to be best conducive to humanity and sound policy."