Admiral

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈædmÉ™rÉ™l/
• US IPA: /ˈæd.mÉš.lÌ©/

Origin

From Old French amirail, amiral (modern amiral), from Arabic أمير البحر (ʾamīr al-baḥr, "commander of the fleet"). Later associated with admirable. Akin to amir, Amir and emir.

First recorded in English September, 1300, to refer to Gerard Allard of Winchelsea, referred to as “Admiral of the Fleet of the Cinque Ports”.

The Mastery of the Sea, by Cyril Field, p. 234

c. 1205 (?).

Online Etymology Dictionary

Full definition of admiral

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 Europe and America, especially a red admiral or white admiral.

Derived terms

• Admiral of the Fleet
• admiralcy
• admiralty
• rear admiral
• vice admiral