DECANUS

In ecclesiastical and old European law. An officer having supervision over ten; a dean. A term applied not only to ecclesiastical, but to civil and military, officers. Decanus monasticus; a monastic dean, or dean of a monastery; an officer over ten monks. Decanus in majori ecclesice; dean of a cathedral church, presiding over ten prebendaries. Decanus epis copi; a bishop’s or rural dean, presiding over ten clerks or parishes. Decanus friborgi; dean of a friborg. An officer among the Saxons who presided over a friborg, tithing, decennary, or association of ten inhabitants; otherwise called a “tithing man,” or “bors holder.” Decanus militarist a military officer, having command of ten soldiers. Spelman. In Roman law. An officer having the command of a company or “mess” of ten soldiers. Also an officer at Constantinople having charge of the burial of the dead.