Obs. [UNDER-1 6 a.] A captain subordinate to another.
In quots. 1526 = ‘centurion.’
1442. Rolls of Parlt., V. 60/1. All these saide Shippes … to obey suche rewle … as be their Capitayne and undre Capitayns shall to hem be ordeyned.
c. 1450. Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls), VIII. 453. That he delyvered … the castell…, when he was undercapiten, to the kynge of Fraunce.
1526. Tindale, Acts xxi. 32. The hye captayne … toke soudiers and vndercaptaynes. [Ibid., 33. When they sawe the vpper captayne, etc.] Ibid., xxvii. 11. The vndercaptayne beleved the gouerner … better then … Paul.
1550. Crowley, Way to Wealth, 641. He woulde not harken to the right aduice of Achior hys vndercaptaine.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. 112. He lost fame and high reputation as easily againe, by meanes of some sleight injury done to them by his under-Captaines.
1648. Gage, West Ind., x. (1655), 35. Also there were other Gentlemen, that were Under-captains, but a small number.
