Captain

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Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, etc. In militaries, the captain is typically at the level of an officer commanding a company or battalion of infantry, a ship, or a battery of artillery, or another distinct unit. It can also be a rank of command in an air force. The term also may be used as an informal or honorary title for persons in similar commanding roles.

Contents

Etymology

The term "captain" derives from katepánō (Ancient Greek : κατεπάνω, lit.'[the one] placed at the top', or 'the topmost'), which was used as title for a senior Byzantine military rank and office. [1] [ page needed ] The word was Latinized as capetanus/catepan, and its meaning seems to have merged with that of the late Latin "capitaneus" (which derives from the classical Latin word "caput", meaning head). [2] This hybridized term gave rise to the English language term captain and its equivalents in other languages (Capitan, Capitaine, Capitano, Capitão, Kapitan, Kapitän, Kapitein, Kapteeni, Kapten, kapitány, Kapudan Pasha, Kobtan, etc.).

Occupations or roles

Military ranks

Canada

Germany

India

Israel

South Africa

United Kingdom

United States

Generic

See also

Related Research Articles

Captain is a rank or title for commander of a military unit, commander of a ship or other vessel, or leader of a unit or organization.

Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding rank in most armies and air forces is major, and in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces is squadron leader. It is roughly equivalent to the Corvette Captain rank in central European countries and the Captain 3rd rank rank in eastern European/CIS countries.

Commander is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.

Commandant is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police rank. It is also often used to refer to the commander of a military prison or prison camp.

Capitan and Kapitan are equivalents of the English Captain in other European languages.

A senior officer is an officer of a more senior grade in military or other uniformed services. In military organisations, the term may refer to any officer above junior officer rank, but usually specifically refers to the middle-ranking group of commissioned officers above junior officer ranks but below flag, general or air rank. In most countries, this includes the ranks of lieutenant commander/major/squadron leader, commander/lieutenant colonel/wing commander and naval captain/colonel/group captain, or their equivalents. In some countries, it also includes brigadiers and commodores.

Captain lieutenant or captain-lieutenant is a military rank, used in a number of navies worldwide and formerly in the British Army.

Senior captain is a rank which is used in some countries' armed forces, navies, merchant marines, civil aviation and in the airline industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kapitan (rank)</span>

Kapitan is used manifold as rank, grade, or rank designation in the Army, Air Force or Navy of numerous countries and armed forces. In member countries of NATO-alliance Kapitan is a commissioned officer rank, rated OF-2 in line to the NATO officers rank system. The almost equivalent OF-2 officer, e.g. in the US Army, is the Captain rank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain (naval)</span> Naval military rank

Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The rank is equal to the army rank of colonel and air force rank of group captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain (armed forces)</span> Army and air force officer rank (OF-2)

The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to the command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces, but usually refers to a more senior officer. Today, a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery. In the Chinese People's Liberation Army, a captain may also command a company, or be the second-in-command of a battalion.

Corvette captain is a rank in many navies which theoretically corresponds to command of a corvette. The equivalent rank is lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy and other Commonwealth navies, lieutenant commander in the United States Navy, and lieutenant-commander in the Royal Canadian Navy – a bilingual country which actually uses the term capitaine de corvette (capc) for the rank of lieutenant-commander when written or spoken in French.

Frigate captain is a naval rank in the naval forces of several countries. Corvette captain lies one level below frigate captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander (United States)</span> Rank used in the military and police of the United States

In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military billet title—the designation of someone who manages living quarters or a base—depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in non-military organizations, particularly in law enforcement.

Staff captain is the English translation of a number of military ranks:

<i>Katepano</i> Senior Byzantine military rank

The katepánō was a senior Byzantine military rank and office. The word was Latinized as capetanus/catepan, and its meaning seems to have merged with that of the Italian "capitaneus". This hybridized term gave rise to the English language term captain and its equivalents in other languages

Commandant is a military rank used in many countries, where it is usually equivalent to the rank of major.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain (United States O-6)</span> Rank in the United States uniformed services, O-6

In the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, captain is the senior-most commissioned officer rank below that of flag officer. The equivalent rank is colonel in the United States Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps.

Captain 1st rank is a rank used by the Russian Navy and a number of former communist states. The rank is the most senior rank in the staff officers' career group. The rank is equivalent to colonel in armies and air forces. Within NATO forces, the rank is rated as OF-5 and is equivalent to captain in English-speaking navies.

Captain 2nd rank is a rank used by the Russian Navy and a number of former communist states. The rank is the middle rank in the staff officer's career group. The rank is equivalent to Lieutenant colonel in armies and air forces. Within NATO forces, the rank is rated as OF-4 and is equivalent to Commander in English-speaking navies.

References

  1. Haldon, John (1999). Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 565–1204. London: UCL Press. ISBN   1-85728-495-X.
  2. "Definition of CAPTAIN". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. Mzezewa, Tariro (25 February 2019). "Please Call Her Captain". The New York Times . Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  4. Stewart, Easton (25 February 2019). "Please Call Her Captain". Christmas Captions for Instagram . Retrieved 1 January 2022.