Captain

Captain is a title for the commander of a military unit, the commander of a ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel, or the commander of a port, fire department or police department, election precinct, etc. The captain is a military rank in armies, navies, Public Health Service, coast guards, etc., typically at the level of an officer commanding a company of infantry, a ship, or a battery of artillery, or similar distinct unit. The terms also may be used as an informal or honorary title for persons in similar commanding roles.

For other uses, see Captain (disambiguation).

Etymology

The term "captain" derives from katepánō (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] 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
  • Captain (armed forces), a commissioned officer rank corresponding to the field commander of a company of soldiers usually, or that of a battery of an artillery battalion (company second-in-command or specialist platoon commander in UK).
  • Captain (naval), a commissioned officer rank in the navy.
  • Captain (nautical), a licensed mariner who is legally in command of a ship, a yacht or another type of vessel that may or may not be carrying passengers for hire.[3]
  • Captain (airlines), senior person or officer usually and lawfully in charge of an aircraft; corresponding to the work condition of pilot in command.
  • Fire captain, officer in a fire department
  • Police captain, officer in a police organization
  • Group Captain, a senior commissioned rank in many air forces
  • Captain of industry, business leader
  • Captain of the Port, harbour (UK) or Coast Guard (USA) post
  • Precinct captain, political party's representative at an election precinct
  • School captain, student elected or appointed to represent the school
  • Captain Regent, head of state of San Marino
  • Captain-major, colonial officer of a Portuguese possession
  • Captain-commandant, a Belgian military rank
  • Katepano, a senior Byzantine officer (and word from which "captain" derived)
  • Kapudan Pasha
  • Kapitan Cina
  • Captal, a regional title in Southern France

Military ranks

United Kingdom

United States

Canada
  • Captain (Canadian naval rank)

Germany
  • Kapitän bzw. „Kapitän zur See“ (Deutsche Marine), Nato OF-5 grade

Generic
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See also

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.
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