/man"seuh peuhl/ , n.
an officer or steward of a monastery, college, etc., authorized to purchase provisions.
[ 1150-1200 in sense "slave"; ME manciple, var. of mancipe mancipium, L: a possession, slave, orig., ownership, equiv. to mancip-, s. of manceps contractor, agent ( man ( us ) hand + -cep-, comb. form of capere to take (see CONCEPT) + -s nom. sing. ending) + -ium -IUM ]