"Decanus" is a word in LAW AND LEGAL

In eoolesiastioal and old European law. An officer having supervision over ten; a dean. A term applied not only to ecclesiastical, but to civil and mlll-tary, officers. Decanus monasticus; a monastic dean, or dean of a monastery; an offi-cer over ten monks. Decanus in majori ecclesi#; dean of a cathedral church, pre-siding over ten prebendaries. Decanus epis-copi; a bishop's or rural dean, presiding over ten clerks or parishes. Dccanus friborgi; dean of a frlborg. An officer among the Saxons who presided over a frlliorg, tithing, decennary, or association of ten lnhabitants; otherwise called a “tithing man,” or “borsholder.” Decanus militaris; a military offl-. cer, havlng command of ten soldiers. Spel