/ ˈædmərəl; NAmE / noun
an officer of very high rank in the navy :
The admiral visited the ships under his command.
Admiral Lord Nelson
—see also rear admiral , red admiral
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting an emir, a Muslim leader, or Saracen commander): from Old French amiral , admirail , via medieval Latin from Arabic 'amīr commander (from 'amara to command). The ending -al was from Arabic -al- of the, used in titles (e.g. 'amīr-al-'umarā ruler of rulers), later assimilated to the familiar Latinate suffix -al .