■ noun
1》 the person in command of a ship.
↘the pilot in command of a civil aircraft.
↘a rank of naval officer above commander and below commodore.
2》 a rank of officer in the army and in the US and Canadian air forces, above lieutenant and below major.
↘(in the US) a police officer in charge of a precinct.
3》 the leader of a team, especially in sports.
↘a powerful or influential person in a particular field: a ~ of industry.
■ verb serve as the ~ of.
Derivatives
~cy noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. capitain (superseding earlier chevetaigne 'chieftain'), from late L. capitaneus 'chief', from L. caput , capit- 'head'.