Word: admiral Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Arabic أَمِير (ʔamīr) Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Medieval Latin -ālis ▲ Latin admīrorinflu. Medieval Latin admirālisder. Old French admiralder. Middle English admiral English admiral From Middle English admiral etc., from Anglo-Norman and Old French admiral etc., from Medieval Latin admiralis, admirallus, and admiralius, from irregular modification of amiralis etc. under the influence of the prefix ad- and particularly admiror (“to admire, respect”), from Arabic أَمِير (ʔamīr, “commander”) + -alis (“-al”). The ending is frequently but mistakenly folk etymologized to derive from the article ال (al-), particularly in Arabic أَمِير اَلبَحْر (ʔamīr al-baḥr, “commander of the sea”), first attested as a Fatimid office, or in Arabic أَمِير الْمُؤْمِنِين (ʔamīr al-muʔminīn, “Commander of the Believers, caliph”). It seems instead to have been borrowed from modification of only the first term in Arabic أَمِير الْأُمَرَاء (ʔamīr al-ʔumarāʔ, “emir of emirs, commander-in-chief”) as used as a title for important commanders in Norman Sicily in the mid-12th century. First attested as an English rank in reference to Gervase Alard of Winchelsea as "admiral of the fleet of the Cinque Ports". Doublet of emir, amir, Amir, and amira. Pronunciation: /ˈædməɹəl/, /ˈædmɹəl/, /ˈædməɹl/, /ˈædmɚəl/, [æd.mɹəl] 1. The commander of a naval squadron or fleet, regardless of formal rank. Labels: informal 2. The appointed commander of a navy, regardless of formal title. 3. A high rank in the British and American Navies, NATO grade OF-9, equivalent ranks in other navies, in coast guards, etc. Example: ... 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. Example: 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. 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. 5. Any of several species of nymphalid butterflies of the genera Kaniska, Limenitis and Vanessa. 6. The shell of the Conus ammiralis; the cone shells of various other species displaying similarly intricate banding. 7. Synonym of flagship: an admiral's ship in a fleet, the command or largest ship in a naval or commercial fleet. Labels: historical 8. Synonym of emir, a Muslim commander or prince. Labels: historical, uncommon Example: The Saracen admiral, Balán... held court in the Castillo de Aguas Muertas... 9. Any of several varieties of pear, the trees which produce them. Labels: obsolete