a steward who buys provisions, esp in a college, Inn of Court, or monastery
Word origin
C13: via Old French from Latin mancipium purchase, from manceps purchaser, from manus hand + capere to take
manciple in American English
(ˈmænsəpəl)
noun
a steward or buyer of provisions, as for an English college, a monastery, etc.
Word origin
ME < OFr manciple, mancipe < ML mancipium, office of a purchaser < L, legal purchase, possession < manceps, buyer, contractor < manus, a hand + base of capere, to take: see manual & have