Main Entry: ad·mi·ral

Pronunciation: \ˈad-m(ə-)rəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French amiral commander & Medieval Latin admiralis emir, admirallus admiral, from Arabic amīr-al- commander of the (as in amīr-al-baḥr commander of the sea)

Date: 15th century

1 archaic : the commander in chief of a navy
2 a : flag officer b : a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard who ranks above a vice admiral and whose insignia is four stars — compare general
3 archaic : flagship
4 : any of several brightly colored nymphalid butterflies — compare red admiral