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. Dccanus in majori ecclcsiw; dean of a cathedral church, presiding over ten
prebendaries. Dccanus cpis- enpi; a bishop’s or rural dean, presiding over ten clerks or
parishes. Dccanus fribori/i; 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- hohlcr.” Dccanus militaris; 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.