Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, etc. In militaries, the captain is typically at the level of an officer commanding a company or battalion of infantry, a ship, or a battery of artillery, or another distinct unit. The term also may be used as an informal or honorary title for persons in similar commanding roles.

Etymology

The term "captain" derives from katepánō (Ancient Greek: κατεπάνω, lit.'[the one] placed at the top', or 'the topmost'), which was used as title for a senior Byzantine military rank and office.[1] The word was Latinized as capetanus/catepan, and its meaning seems to have merged with that of the late Latin "capitaneus" (which derives from the classical Latin word "caput", meaning head).[2] This hybridized term gave rise to the English language term captain and its equivalents in other languages (Capitan, Capitaine, Capitano, Capitão, Kapitan, Kapitän, Kapitein, Kapteeni, Kapten, kapitány, Kapudan Pasha, Kobtan, etc.).

Occupations or roles

  • Captain (armed forces), a commissioned officer rank corresponding to the field commander of a company of soldiers usually, or that of a battery of an artillery battalion (company second-in-command or specialist platoon commander in UK).
  • Captain (naval), a commissioned officer rank in the navy, corresponding to the rank of Army colonel, Air force colonel.
  • Captain (nautical), a licensed civilian mariner or person who is legally in command of a merchant ship, a yacht or another type of vessel that may or may not be carrying passengers for hire; corresponds to the work condition of shipmaster or, as usually said, master.[3] [4]

Military ranks

Canada

Germany

  • Kapitän bzw. „Kapitän zur See“ (Deutsche Marine), Nato OF-5 grade

India

Israel

United Kingdom

United States

Generic

See also

References

  1. Haldon, John (1999). Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 565–1204. London: UCL Press. ISBN 1-85728-495-X.
  2. "Definition of CAPTAIN". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. Mzezewa, Tariro (25 February 2019). "Please Call Her Captain". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  4. Stewart, Easton (25 February 2019). "Please Call Her Captain". Christmas Captions for Instagram. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
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