admiral

Etymology

From Middle English amiral, from Old French amirail, amiral (modern French amiral), from a shortening of Arabic أَمِير اَلبَحْر (ʔamīr al-baḥr, “commander of the fleet”, literally “sea commander”). Akin to amir, Amir, and emir. The -d- is probably from the influence of the otherwise unconnected admirable (Latin admīrābilis). First recorded in English in September 1300, in a description of Gerard Allard of Winchelsea as “Admiral of the Fleet of the Cinque Ports”.

noun

1. A naval officer of the highest rank; the commander of a country's naval forces.
2. A naval officer of high rank, immediately below Admiral of the Fleet; the commander of a fleet or squadron.
3. A flag officer in the United States Navy or Coast Guard of a grade superior to vice admiral and junior to admiral of the fleet (when that grade is used). An admiral is equal in grade or rank to a four-star general.
4. The ship which carries the admiral, the flagship; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.
5. (obsolete) A prince or Saracen leader under the Sultan.
6. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Kaniska, Limenitis and Vanessa, especially a red admiral or white admiral.