4

My great grandfather, who owned a small railroad and lumber business in central Georgia after the Civil War, was referred to frequently as "Captain." I learned that that was not a military rank, but an honorific for persons who employed prison labor. (Think of the lyrics to "I've Been Working On the Railroad" -- "Can't you hear the captain calling ...."). Was that honorific applied nation-wide or regionally? When and how did it start?

Improve this question
8
  • 1
    @FumbleFingers - You haven't heard "I've been working on the railroad? How about the reference to "captain" in "John Henry" the folk song about the black railroad builder? The reference to captain helps us understand that John Henry was a prisoner. The term is probably archaic, but not necessarily local. If this is a term used in folk music, its probably was used in literature as well -- hence something relevant for this site.
    – Bruce James
    Jun 6, 2013 at 19:11
  • 2
    @ Bruce: But "the captain" just means "the boss" in a wide variety of different circumstances. Robert Maxwell, for example, was always known as "The Captain". He kept no slaves, so far as I know.
    – FumbleFingers
    Jun 6, 2013 at 19:43
  • 1
    @FumbleFingers -- Maxwell is a Brit. What I'm seeing/hearing is that "Captain" was used in negro folk songs in the American south for either a white boss of a chain gang or else, by whites, the business owner who was employing prison labor (not slave labor). Again, as renting prison labor is no longer legal, the usage has gone out of fashion.
    – Bruce James
    Jun 6, 2013 at 19:51
  • 2
    Another question, another FumbleFingers close vote…
    – Andrew Lazarus
    Jun 7, 2013 at 5:33
  • 1
    You seem to have quite some background information on the subject. That should form part of the body of the question, not sit obscurely in comments. However, note that I said "seem to have" because you made several statements, but have not supported any of the presumptions with references. How are you so sure, and if really so sure, why not substantiate? That's how people ask questions on a Q&A anywhere, right? :)
    – Kris
    Jun 7, 2013 at 7:19

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

The word captain was never specifically “an honorific for persons who employed prison labor”. It is a more general term. It has always been used to mean the chief, or head, of many types of gangs of men. Your example is typical.

Consequently, the origin of your great-grandfather’s honorific is the same as the origin of the word captain itself, which is ultimately the Latin word caput, from PIE *kaput- (head), so literally head-man.¹

NED attests this usage at sea:

1801 Naval Chron. VI. 103 He was captain of a gun at the Battle of the Nile. 1833 MARRYAT P. Simple II. vii, The captain of the main-top was there with two other sailors. 1859 F. GRIFFITHS Artil. Man. (1862) 208, No. 1, the Captain [of a gun] commands, attends the breech, primes, points, and fires. 1882 Navy List July 459 Captain of Quarter-deck Men, Captain of the Forecastle, Captain of the Foretop, Captain of the Hold, etc.

underground (mining):

1602 CAREW Cornwall 10/1 Their ouerseer, whome they terme their Captaine. 1757 BORLASE in Phil. Trans. L. 504 This very intelligent captain of the mine observes, etc. 1852 Leisure Ho. 632 note. 1864 MRS. LLOYD Ladies Polc. 16.

in various trades:

1886 Newspaper, D. H., ‘captain’ of Messrs. Davies’ [tailors’] shop, said that he never saw a coat worse made.

in schools or forms (grades) of schools:

1706 Spect. No. 307 ❡ 13 Every Boy is bound to have as good a Memory as the Captain of the Form. 1730 Etoniana x. 156 There was a speech made by the captain. 1825 SCOTT in Lockhart (1839) VIII. 149 A schoolboy who writes himself Captain of Giggleswick School. 1864 Blackw. Mag. XCVI. 226 (Hoppe) The late captain of Harrow . . gives it as his opinion that the small houses have their necessary advantages.

Notes

  1. *kaput- is the ancestor of many other modern English words (http://etymonline.com/index.php?search=caput):
    • corporal, chief (and mischief), chieftain, cadet
    • capital, cape (promontory, such as Cape Canaveral), precipice
    • biceps, triceps, occipital, capillary
    • achieve, capsize, decapitate
    • cap, cabbage, chapter
    • caput
    • even head itself! via OE heafod, PGmc *haubudam
Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.