alcaide

American  

[al-kahy-dee, ahl-kahy-the] / ælˈkaɪ di, ɑlˈkaɪ ðɛ /

Or alcayde

noun

plural

alcaides

1. a commander of a fortress.

2. a jailer; the warden of a prison.

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alcaide British  

/ alˈkaɪðe, ælˈkeɪd /

noun

1. the commander of a fortress or castle

2. the governor of a prison

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Etymology

Origin of alcaide

First recorded in 1495–1505; from Spanish, from Arabic al-qā'id “the leader”

Example Sentences

At Algiers, he said, there lived, overlooking the prison, a great alcaide named Hadji Morato, a very rich man, who had but one child, a daughter of great beauty.

From The Story of Don Quixote by Choate, Florence

It was read to the queen, and its tidings were confirmed by communications from Alonso Vallejo and the alcaide of Cadiz.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various

To the old alcaide who served as governor of Denia word was brought, at the end of a day of fierce tempest, that a Moorish ship was approaching the shore.

From Historical Tales - The Romance of Reality - Volume VII by Morris, Charles

The next day this account was confirmed; for, at seven in the morning, an alcaide came and ordered all our people out to work, excepting the sick.

From Thrilling Narratives of Mutiny, Murder and Piracy A weird series of tales of shipwreck and disaster, from the earliest part of the century to the present time, with accounts of providential escapes and heart-rending fatalities. by Anonymous

The alcaide returned a courteous answer, offering the princess and her train the shelter of the castle, but saying that he had not the power to release them.

From Historical Tales - The Romance of Reality - Volume VII by Morris, Charles