ˈadm(ə)rəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English admiral, amiral, from Medieval Latin admiralis emir & Old French amiral emir & Middle French amiral naval officer of high rank; Medieval Latin admiralis, probably by folk etymology (influence of Latin admirabilis admirable) from Arabic amīr commander, amīr-al- commander of the (in such phrases as amīr-al-baḥr commander of the sea); Old French & Middle French amiral from Arabic amīr, amīr-al-
1. archaic : the commander in chief of a navy
2.
a. : a naval officer of high rank : flag officer — see admiral of the fleet , fleet admiral , rear admiral , vice admiral
b. : a flag officer who is junior only to a fleet admiral, wears 4 stars and flies a 4-starred flag, and ranks with a four-star general in the army
3. : a commander or officer having a certain general control of a fishing or merchant fleet ; specifically : a fisherman appointed to preserve order and decide differences in a fishing fleet
4. archaic : the chief ship of a fleet : flagship
5. : any of several brightly colored butterflies of the family Nymphalidae — see red admiral
6. : logwood 2