cap|tain

cap|tain «KAP tuhn», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a head of a group; leader or chief: »

Robin Hood was captain of his band.

2. a) the commander of a ship: »

The captain refused to leave his sinking ship while there were others on board.

b) a navy officer ranking next below a rear admiral and next above a commander. He usually commands a warship.

3. an army, air force, or marine officer ranking next below a major and next above a first lieutenant: »

The captain led his company in the attack. With the rank of captain, he served as a sieve to filter requests from Air Force commands (New Yorker).

4. a police or fire department officer, usually ranking next above a lieutenant.

5. a leader of a team in sports: »

He is captain of the football team.

Abbr: Capt.

–v.t.

to lead or command as captain: »

He will captain the basketball team next season. John Paul Jones captained the “Bonhomme Richard” in its battle with the “Serapis.”

╂[< Old French capitaine, learned borrowing from Late Latin capitāneus commander; prominent chief < Latin caput, -itis head. See etym. of doublet chieftain. (Cf. ↑chieftain)]