commodore

com•mo•dore

[[t]ˈkɒm əˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr[/t]] n.

1) mil (formerly) a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ranking above a captain: replaced by rear admiral, lower half

2) mil brit. an officer in the British navy in temporary command of a squadron

3) mil the senior captain when two or more ships of war are cruising in company

4) mil (in the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marine) the officer in command of a convoy

5) navig. the senior captain of a line of merchant vessels

6) navig. the head of a yacht or boat club

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Etymology: 1685–95; earlier commandore, perh. < D komandeur < F commandeur commander