Captain
Title given to a commander
- 3 min read
- 3 chapters
Explore on Lably
ToursExplore Lably’s 3D toursEtymology
The word "captain" derives from the Middle English "capitane", from Anglo-French "capitain", itself coming from the Latin "caput", meaning "head". It is considered cognate with the Greek word 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. The word was Latinized as Ancient Greek: capetanus or catepan. Both ultimately derive from the Proto-Indo-European "*káput", also meaning head.
Sign in to keep reading
2 more chapters are free with a Lably account.
Occupations or roles
- Captain (armed forces), a commissioned officer rank corresponding to NATO OF-2 level. Typically commander of a company size unit, or equivalent. It is also a rank of command in the air force.
- Captain (naval), a commissioned officer rank in the navy, corresponding to the rank of Army colonel, Air force colonel.
- Captain (nautical), a licensed person or civilian marine officer who is legally in command of a merchant ship, a yacht or another type of vessel that may or may not be carrying passengers for hire; corresponds to the work condition of shipmaster or, as usually said, master.
- Captain (airlines), a licensed professional pilot who is legally in command of a civil aircraft; corresponding to the position of pilot in command (PIC).
- 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 in the United States.
- Barangay captain, Head of Barangay (Village) in the Philippines
- 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
Canada
- Captain (Canadian naval rank)
- Captain (Canadian army and air force)
Germany
- Kapitän bzw. "Kapitän zur See" (Deutsche Marine), Nato OF-5 grade
- Hauptmann, the german equivalent of Captain in Army (Armee/Heer) and Air Force (Luftwaffe)
India
- Captain (Indian Navy)
- Group captain (India)
Israel
- Seren, an Israel Defense Forces officer rank whether Army, Air Force, or Navy
South Africa
- Captain is a South African National Defence Force officer rank of the South African Army, South African Air Force, South African Navy, South African Military Health Service
United Kingdom
- Captain (Royal Navy), NATO OF-5 grade
- Captain (British Army and Royal Marines), NATO OF-2 grade
- Group Captain (Royal Air Force), NATO OF-5 grade
United States
- Captain (United States)
- Captain (United States O-3) (US Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, or Space Force)
- Captain (United States O-6) (US Navy, US Public Health Service, or Coast Guard)
Generic
- Captain (naval)
- Captain at sea
- Captain of sea and war
- Other captain grades
- Ship-of-the-line captain
- Senior Captain
- Staff captain
More in India
MuslimsAdherents of IslamPresidencies and provinces of British India1612–1947 British directly-ruled administrative divisions in IndiaStates and union territories of IndiaIndia is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, for a total of 36 sSikhsReligious groupInternational Alphabet of Sanskrit TransliterationTransliteration scheme for Indic scriptsPrime Minister of IndiaHead of government