alcaide

or al·cay·de

[al-kahy-dee; Spanish ahl-kahy-th e]

noun, plural al·cai·des

[al-kahy-deez; Spanish ahl-kahy-th es] /ælˈkaɪ diz; Spanish ɑlˈkaɪ ðɛs/. (in Spain, Portugal, Southwestern U.S., etc.)

a commander of a fortress.
a jailer; the warden of a prison.

Origin of alcaide

1495–1505; < Spanish < Arabic al-qā'id the leader

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for alcaide

Historical Examples of alcaide

Senhor, I exclaimed, you remind me of the Alcaide of Montijo, who hesitated to approach his mother-in-law until she was gloved.
Tales from the Lands of Nuts and Grapes
Charles Sellers and Others
Louis inquired how the alcaide reported the state of the Basha; and asked the purport of his visit to the cell.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 4 (of 4)
Jane Porter
The alcaide's appearance was strange to the eyes of him, who had last seen him in the light European garb of his country.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 4 (of 4)
Jane Porter
Besides these the alcaide of the prison was to keep lists of those relaxed and penanced with three indexes.
A History of The Inquisition of Spain; vol. 2,
Henry Charles Lea
The humbler officials of the tribunal were the nuncio, the portero and the carcelero or alcaide de las carceles secretas.
A History of The Inquisition of Spain; vol. 2,
Henry Charles Lea

British Dictionary definitions for alcaide

alcaide

noun (in Spain and Spanish America)

the commander of a fortress or castle
the governor of a prison

Word Origin for alcaide

C16: from Spanish, from Arabic al-qā'id the captain, commander, from qād to give orders

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012