captain
A2Meanings
-
1
noun
the leader of a group of people
a captain of industry
-
2
verb
to be the captain of a sports team
I captain the squad.
-
3
noun
A chief or leader.
For out of the shal come a captaine, whych shall govern my people israhel.
-
4
noun
The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.
Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, […] naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several states on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter.
-
5
noun
An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.
"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.[…]."
-
6
noun
One of the athletes on a sports team who is designated to make decisions, and is allowed to speak for his team with a referee or official.
Captain's supposed to be the leader, right?
-
7
noun
The leader of a group of workers.
John Henry said to the captain, "A man ain't nothing but a man."
-
8
noun
A maître d', a headwaiter.
1977, Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey, lyricists, "Hotel California", So I called up the Captain, "Please bring me my wine." / He said: "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969."
Etymology
From Middle English capitain, capteyn, from Old French capitaine, from Late Latin capitāneus, from Latin caput (“head”) (English cap). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-. Doublet of chieftain, also from Old French.