Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Decanus

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

DECA'NUS. A subordinate officer in the Roman army, who had the command over ten orderlies quartered with him in the same tent (contubernium); whence he is also called caput contubernii. Veg. Mil. ii. 8. and 13.