Captain is a rank or title with various meanings. The word came to English via French from the Latin capitaneus ("chief") which is itself derived from the Latin word caput ("head"). The term has different meanings in nautical, army, aviation, police and emergency services and sporting circles. This often causes confusion. Nautical Captain is the traditional customary title for and form of address given to the person in charge of a vessel at sea regardless of military rank. On most legal documents in the merchant shipping industry, he or she is correctly referred to as the ship's Master. A nautical "Captain" may be a civilian or a naval commissioned officer of any rank. See Master Mariner or skipper . This usage originated in the Royal Navy in the 1300s. At that time, "Captain" referred to the commander of the contingent of soldiers boarded upon a ship. However, the actual sailing and mainten

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # TAGS