sb. [a. Fr. commandant, in same sense, orig. pr. pple. = ‘commanding’: cf. It., Sp., and Pr. comandante, Pg. commandante.] A commanding officer, a commander: irrespective of rank. Applied esp. to the military governor of a fortress, town, or district, and often as a foreign title, French, Spanish, or Portuguese. Herce commandant-general.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2248/4. The Commandant of the said Regiment on Honslow-Heath.
1691. New Disc. Old Intreague, xiii. And here (if not at home) he’s Commandant.
1747. Gentl. Mag., XVII. 521. Sixteen different ships engaged us alternately; the Commandant … staid by us the least of any.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 742. The commandant there is subordinate to the viceroy of Peru, in all matters relating to the government, to the finances, and to war.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 451. The Commandant of the forces in both Canadas.
1822. Byron, Werner, I. i. 613. Here is a packet for the commandant Of Frankfort.
1827. Southey, Hist. Penins. War, II. 207. By electing Barrios commandant-general of the province.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), II. 195. The Cardinal is here from Rome, The Commandant from Seville.
