captain
Quick Summary
The term "captain" is an ancient military rank, originating from the Latin word "caput," meaning "head," signifying a leader. In armies and some air forces, a captain typically commands the largest unit an officer can personally know, such as a company in the infantry or a battery in the artillery. This rank is above a first lieutenant and below a major.12
On the sea, a captain usually commands a large warship or a sizable vessel in the mercantile marine service. In the U.S. and British navies, this rank is equivalent to a colonel in the army. While lower-ranking officers in command of ships may be addressed as captain, it is a courtesy title and not their official rank.21
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