admiral

plural admirals · alternative Admiral · alternative Adm. · alternative Adm · alternative adml. · alternative ADM · alternative admyralle · alternative amyrall · alternative admarall · alternative admerell · alternative admerolle · alternative admirell · alternative admyrell · alternative amerall · alternative ammyrall · alternative amral

1. informalgovernmentThe commander of a naval squadron or fleet, regardless of formal rank.First known use 1429
2. governmentThe appointed commander of a navy, regardless of formal title.First known use 1440
3. governmentA high rank in the British and American Navies, NATO grade OF-9, equivalent ranks in other navies, in coast guards, etc.

   2 more examples

   ... from my experience in Ours as well as from my former intimacy with many Officers of Note in the British Navy, I am convinced that the Parity of Rank between Sea & land or Marine Officers, is of more consequence to the harmony of the Service, than hath generally been imagined. — in the British Establishment — an Admiral ranks with a Genl a Vice Admiral with a Lieut Genl a Rear Admiral with a Major Genl a Commodore with a Brigadier Genl — a Captain with a Colonel, a master & Commander with a Lieut Colnel — a Lieut. Commanding with a Major, and a Lieutenant in the Navy Ranks with a Captain of Horse, Foot or Marines. — I propose not our Enemies as an Example for our Genl imitation — Yet as their Navy is the best regulated of any in the World, we must in Some degree imitate them and Aim at such further improvement as may one day make ours Vie with and Exceed theirs.

   1776 September 4, John Paul Jones, letter to Robert Morris

   He has appealed to the navies of Europe to prove, that we ought to have Admirals; then, of course he is willing, or at least ought to be so, to let their rules govern in promoting to that grade. The general principle which governs the navies of the old world is... when the Post is attained, then promotion is by inheritance... If a Post Captain in the English navy lives long enough, he is certain of being an Admiral, though not before he is sixty years of age... Hence it is manifest that the public interest no more requires the new grade of Admiral to be added to the navy, than it does the bestowing of orders of nobility on all the diplomatic agents, who represent the United States at the different courts of Europe.

   1836 March 17, 'Candor', "The Navy", Army and Navy Chronicle, Vol. II, No. 11, p. 173

4. The commander of a fishing or merchant fleet, particularly (historical, Canada) a captain granted special privileges in exchange for bringing the first ship of a given fishing season to certain harbors in Newfoundland.First known use 1589
5. Any of several species of nymphalid butterflies of the genera Kaniska, Limenitis and Vanessa.First known use 1799
6. biologyThe shell of the Conus ammiralis; the cone shells of various other species displaying similarly intricate banding.First known use 1752
7. historicalSynonym of flagship: an admiral's ship in a fleet, the command or largest ship in a naval or commercial fleet.First known use 1557

   Synonyms: flagship

8. historicaluncommonSynonym of emir, a Muslim commander or prince.First known use c. 1275

   The Saracen admiral, Balán... held court in the Castillo de Aguas Muertas...

   2004, Howard Mancing, The Cervantes Encyclopedia, volume I, page 373

   Synonyms: emir

9. obsoleteAny of several varieties of pear, the trees which produce them.First known use 1693

plural Admirals · alternative Adm. · alternative Adm

1. Alternative letter-case form of admiral in its various senses.

   I have the orders ready, Admiral.

   2 more examples

   Admiral Yi was one of the greatest naval officers in history and is still a beloved Korean hero.

   [F]ive-year-old Loren Devine of Indianapolis dispatched a letter to Admiral Smith . . . “Dear Admiral, why can’t you make the old Mo sail? Can’t you fix that wreck in the bottom? Look the ship over and see if there are any holes and cracks and then write me a letter if you can make er^([sic]) sail. I’m worried about it.” Both Admirals Smith and Wallin answered Loren’s letter, and sent him a complete set of diagrams showing how the salvage job was done.

   1969, Gordon Newell, Allan E[dward] Smith, Mighty Mo: The U.S.S. Missouri: A Biography of the Last Battleship, New York, N.Y.: Bonanza Books, a division of Crown Publishers, Inc., →OCLC, page 96, column 1