Admiral

Meaning

Noun

• A naval officer title

Origin

• From Middle English admiral, admirel, admirail, from Old French amirail, amiral (modern amiral) and Medieval Latin admīrālis, amīrālis, both from Arabic أَمِير الْبَحْر. Later associated with admirable. Akin to amir, Amir and emir.
• First recorded in English September 1300, to refer to Gerard Allard of Winchelsea, referred to as “Admiral of the Fleet of the Cinque Ports”.