alcayde

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

/ ælˈkaɪ di; Spanish ɑlˈkaɪ ðɛ /

noun, plural al·cay·des [al-kahy-deez; Spanish ahl-kahy-th es] /ælˈkaɪ diz; Spanish ɑlˈkaɪ ðɛs/.

Nearby words

alcandre, alcapton, alcaptonuria, alcathous, alcatraz, alcayde, alcazar, alcazar de san juan, alceste, alcestis, alchem.

Definition for alcayde (2 of 2)

alcaide

or al·cay·de

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

/ ælˈkaɪ di; Spanish ɑlˈkaɪ ðɛ /

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for alcayde

That experienced veteran, however, was with the king at Cordova, having left a valiant cavalier as alcayde of the place.
Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada|Washington Irving
I am a daughter of that prison, my father was alcayde, and my son might hope to be so, were he not a fool.
The Bible in Spain|George Borrow
“Your worship is right,” said the alcayde with a bow, but in a low voice.
The Bible in Spain|George Borrow
The alcayde beheld his bravest men dead or wounded around him, while the remainder were sinking with watchfulness and fatigue.
Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada|Washington Irving

The alcayde drew his long body into the patio, and turned to lock the little door with an immense key.
Romance|Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer

British Dictionary definitions for alcayde

alcaide

/ (ælˈkeɪd, Spanish alˈkaɪðe) /

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