Definition of rear admiral
: a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard having either of two ranks:
a
: one who ranks above a captain
— called also rear admiral (lower half)
b
: one who ranks above a rear admiral (lower half) and below a vice admiral
— called also rear admiral (upper half)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for rear admiral
The first known use of rear admiral was in 1589
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