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.

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 or person 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; corresponding to the work condition of shipmaster or as usually said master.[3]
Captain (airlines), a licensed civilian airman or person who is legally in command of an aircraft; corresponding to the work condition of pilot in command colloquially said 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
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

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, Marines, or Space Force)
Captain (United States O-6) (US Navy, US Public Health Service, or Coast Guard)

Canada

Captain (Canadian naval rank)

Germany

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

Generic

References

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

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[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.