society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > administration and ceremonial > organize naval affairs, etc. [verb (transitive)] > give (officer) command of a ship (4)
transitive. With †for, to. To give (an officer) command of a ship. Now rare.
transitive. Military. To appoint to a post or command; (Navy) to appoint to the command of a post ship (cf. post, n.3), to commission as captain (now…