admiral
noun
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It is a curiosity of history that the word admiral has its source in Arabic, the language of a desert people who acquired their seafaring skills after the great expansion of Islam in the seventh century. As the name for a Muslim chieftain, the Arabic word amir appears as a loanword in medieval Latin documents in spellings such as amiratus, admirandus, and admirallus. These words display a variety of suffixes and an added d, through confusion with the Latin verb admirari, “to admire.” The ending -allus is probably from the Arabic article al, which actually belongs to the following word in phrases such as amir al-‘ali, “supreme commander.” The application of admirallus to a commander of a fleet originated in 12th-century Sicily, was adopted by the Genoese, and then spread to countries throughout western Europe, including France and England.
Example Sentences
Nick Romano, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2022 More than 200 men decided to return to work, and the admiral recommended they be charged with summary courts-martial for refusing to obey orders. Matthew F. Delmont, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022 The 15th-century Ming expeditions undertaken by the Muslim admiral Zheng He to ports in Asia, Africa and the Middle East established links with the sultanates of Melaka, Brunei, Pasai and others located around the Spice Islands. Maxwell Carter, WSJ, 6 July 2022 His feelings echo those of Harris’ admiral, who tells Maverick his time is ending. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 24 May 2022 Later, DeSantis called out HHS official Rachel Levine, who oversaw Pennsylvania's coronavirus lockdown orders before being commissioned an admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service under President Biden. Fox News, 23 July 2022 Geordi appears to be in an admiral’s Starfleet uniform, while Worf appears to be wearing captain’s rank insignia. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 23 July 2022 Other reminders of the past include Rooster (Miles Teller), son of Goose, and Iceman himself, who has ascended to the rank of admiral and kept a protective eye on his former rival. New York Times, 26 May 2022 The vice chief of naval operations has assigned the head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, a four-star admiral, to determine disciplinary measures for those in uniform. Audrey Mcavoy, Anchorage Daily News, 1 July 2022 See More Word History
Middle English admirail, admiral, amiral "emir, Saracen chieftain, naval commander," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin admiralis, admirallus, amiralius, borrowed from Arabic amīr-al- "commander of the," in such phrases as amīr-al-baḥr "commander of the sea" (initial adm- for am- probably by association with Latin admīrārī "to admire")
Note: From the 9th century, the Arabic word amīr, "commander," appears in Medieval Latin documents with a variety of suffixal formations, as amiratus, admirandus, and admirallus; the ending -allus in the latter form has usually been construed as the Arabic definite article al, which belongs to the following word in collocations such as amīr al-'alī, "supreme commander." The more specific application of admirallus to the commander of a fleet originated in 12th-century Norman-ruled Sicily.
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing admiral
Kids Definition
admiral
noun
admirals
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- commanders
- commodores
- skippers
- captains
- pilots
- vice admirals
- skips
- officers
- masters
- sea captains
- commanding officers
- mates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- crewmen
- crews
- crewmates