captainn.

Brit.

/ˈkapt(ᵻ)n/, U.S.

/ˈkæpt(ə)n/

Forms: α. Middle English capitain, capitayn, capitane, capitein, Middle English capytayn, capytein, capeteigne, Middle English–1500s capitayne, capytayne, Middle English–1600s capitaine, 1500s capitan, 1600s Scottish capitane; β. Middle English capteyn, Middle English captayn, captan, Middle English–1600s captayne, 1500s–1600s captaine, 1600s Scottish captane, Middle English– captain.

Etymology: Middle English capitain, < late Old French (14th cent.) capitaine, capitain, < late Latin capitāneus, capitānus adjective ‘chief, principal’, noun ‘chief, headman’, < caput, capit- head. Had Latin capitāneus been an old word, which lived on in French, its Old French form would have been catain , chatain ( < captāneum ); being of somewhat later (10–11th cent. origin) the actual Old French form was cata-nië , cataigne , chataigne ; a still later (12th cent.) semipopular form, preserving the intertonic i of capitāneus , was chevetaine (whence English chieftain n.). Capitaine was again a much later adaptation of the Latin.

I. A chief or headman.

a. One who stands at the head of others and leads them, or exercises authority over them; a headman, chief, or leader. Now only as figurative use of special senses.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > [noun] > those in authority > person in authority > head or chief

headeOE

headmanOE

headsmanOE

masterlinga1200

dukec1275

chevetaine1297

chief1297

headlingc1300

principalc1325

captainc1380

primatec1384

chieftainc1400

master-man1424

principate1483

grand captain1531

headmaster?1545

knap of the casec1555

capitano1594

muqaddam1598

mudaliyar1662

reis1677

sachem1684

doge1705

prytanis1790

gam1827

main guy1882

oga1917

ras1935

c1380 J. Wyclif De Eccles. ix, in Sel. Wks. III. 360 It were good to obeishe to Petre, and þat sich a captein were in þe Chirche.

1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. lviij/2 Thou hast ben capytayn ayenst the fayth.

?1510 T. More in tr. G. F. Pico della Mirandola Lyfe I. Picus sig. f.i Crist our lord and souereyne captaine.

1611 Bible (King James) Heb. ii. 10 The Captaine of their saluation.

1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 50 Homer, that Captain of all Poetry.

1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues II. 435 He [sc. Homer] is the great captain and teacher of all that goodly band of Tragic writers.

b. captain of industry n. an industrial magnate.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to status > [noun] > industrial magnate

captain of industry1843

industrial1887

1843 T. Carlyle Past & Present iv. iv. 361 (heading) Captains of Industry.

1896 G. B. Shaw in Sat. Rev. 4 July 14/1 Attentive observers of great ‘captains of industry’ know that their success often comes to them in spite of themselves.

1931 Economist 10 Jan. 51/2 A representative conference of trade union leaders and captains of industry.

1933 J. M. Keynes Ess. in Biogr. i. iii. 42 Mr. Bonar Law has liked to think of himself as..handling wars and empires and revolutions with the coolness and limited purpose of a first-class captain of industry.

2. esp. A military leader; a commander of a body of troops, of a fortress, castle, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > [noun]

heretogac900

marshal1258

chevetaine1297

chieftainc1330

arrayerc1370

governora1382

master of (the) chivalrya1382

leadera1387

war-headlinga1400

emperorc1400

captain1450

conductor1483

grand captain1531

commendador1580

lodesman1581

conducta1592

commander1598

induperator1599

war-captain1610

war-chief1610

war-leader1610

most mastera1616

commandant1687

commandant-general1827

baron1919

1450 W. Somner in Four C. Eng. Lett. 4 Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) viii. 452 Thai of the castell..tald it to thair capitane.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Judges i. 1 Who shall..be oure Captayne of warre against y^e Cananites?

a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) ii. ii. 134 That in the Captaine's but a chollericke word, Which in the Souldier is flat blasphemie.

1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. ii. xviii. 226 It is a saying, that Such as the captaine is, such is the souldier.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1653 Lords, Ladies, Captains, Councellors, or Priests.

1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 190. ⁋2 The captains of thousands awaited his commands.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 200 Of all the Irish captains the most dreaded and the most abhorred.

3. A military leader of skill and experience; an able general or commander; a strategist.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > war > war as profession or skill > [noun] > tactics > strategist or tactician

general1579

captain1590

encamper1598

soldier1603

tactic1638

tactician1798

manoeuvrera1805

strategist1821

society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > [noun] > skilled or able

Hannibal1585

captain1590

1590 A. Cope (title) The History of two most noble Captaynes of the World, Anniball and Scipio.

1689 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 297 Authors of sects, great captains and politicians.

1701 J. Swift Disc. Contests Nobles & Commons ii. 16 Miltiades..is reckon'd to have been the first great Captain not only of Athens, but of all Greece.

1838 T. B. Macaulay in Edinb. Rev. Oct. 116 Condé and Turenne will always be considered as captains of a very different order from the invincible Louis.

1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) II. x. 477 The world first fully learned how great a captain England had in her future King.

II. The head of a division.

4. gen. A subordinate officer holding command under a sovereign, a general, or the like.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer or soldier of rank > [noun] > subordinate officer

captainc1380

under-officerc1400

petty officer1587

subaltern?1608

sub-officer1609

subaltern officer1611

sub1710

company officer1786

C.P.O.1907

c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 323 Folk, þat weren þe fendis capteyns in killing of martiris.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Macc. xv. 38 The kynge made Cendebeus captayne of the see coost.

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III v. v. 61 O thou whose Captaine I account my selfe..Make vs thy ministers of chastisement.

1610 Bible (Douay) II. Lament. i. comm. His capitaine Nabuzardan spoyled al.

1611 Bible (King James) Deut. i. 15 Captaines ouer fifties, and captaines ouer tennes, and officers among your tribes.

1830 J. Sparks S. Cabot in Amer. Biogr. ii. 109 On Cabot's arrival..he gave him the title of his Captain.

5. spec.

a. In the army: The officer who commands a company of infantry or foot artillery, or a troop of cavalry or horse artillery, ranking between the major and the lieutenant. The grade is the third in order of promotion.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer by rank > [noun] > captain

captain1567

cap1759

cap'n1829

1567 Confed. Popish Princes in J. Strype Ann. Reformation I. ii. l. 538 The principall lievetenaunts and capytaines.

1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres ii. 15 Regiment [divided] into companies, ouer every company a Captaine.

1641 Sc. Acts. (1870) V. App. 679/2 Petitione be the Lieutenant Colonellis and Majoris..desyring the pay of ane captaine.

1814 W. Scott Waverley I. v. 62 Captain Waverley, of the —— regiment of dragoons.

1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) II. 347 Who had now risen to the rank of captain.

b. An officer in the Salvation Army.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > sect > Christianity > Protestantism > salvationism > [noun] > person > officer

captain1878

lieutenant1884

major1907

1878 Christian Mission Mag. Dec. 320 These stray remarks added to the interest we felt in our contemplated visit to the command of Captain Louise Agar.

1884 W. Booth General's Lett. 6 Dec. (1890) 18 Go to the crowd of sinners, or spot them individually..because out of them you may make Lieutenants, and Captains, and Majors, and Generals.

1965 R. Collier General next to God iii. 75 Not all in those pioneer years could afford..a guinea for a captain's outfit.

c. U.S. A police officer ranking between chief officer and lieutenant; one who commands a precinct or division.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman > policeman of specific rank > foreign

duffadar1782

police captain1832

lieutenant1907

captain1909

1909 L. F. Fuld Police Admin. ii. 57 An officer called a captain is placed in charge of each precinct.

1926 J. Black You can't Win iv. 32 One of the detectives went into an office..and came out at once with a man in uniform he called ‘captain’.

1932 W. Faulkner Light in August iv. 81 Captain McLendon said, ‘I don't reckon about it at all.’

1978 J. Wambaugh Black Marble iv. 48 ‘Sometimes a fellow shouldn't work homicide that long,’ Captain Hooker offered.

a. The officer who commands a man-of-war. In the British navy, the title of an officer who ranks between a rear-admiral or a commodore and a commander. The title is also often given by courtesy to a commander. Captain of the Fleet: an officer, temporarily appointed by the admiralty, who acts as adjutant-general of a naval force, carries out all orders issued by the commander-in-chief, but whose special duty it is to keep up the discipline of the fleet; he wears the uniform of a rear-admiral. Captain of the Port: an officer of the Board of Health who ‘controls the entries and departures, the berthing at the anchorage, and general marine duties in a port, but possesses no naval authority. Hence, the port-captain is quite another officer’ (Smyth Sailor's Word-bk.).

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > seafaring warrior or naval man > leader or commander > [noun] > naval officer > captain

captain1555

1555 R. Eden Two Viages into Guinea in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 345^v This capitayne Wyndam, puttyng furth of his shyp at Porchmouth.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. i. 107 This Villaine heere, Being Captaine of a Pinnace.

1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 1 The Captaines charge is to commaund all, and tell the Maister to what Port he will go.

1745 Observ. conc. Navy 36 A Captain of a Man of War of the Line, is equal in Rank to a Colonel.

1804 G. Rose Diaries (1860) II. 194 Captain Prescott, a commander in the navy.

1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy II. vi. 156 The captain of the frigate.

b. Applied to the chief sailor of a gang of men to whom the duties of a certain portion of the ship are assigned, as captain of the forecastle, captain of the hold, captain of the maintop, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > sailors involved in specific duties or activities > [noun] > chief sailor of part of ship

captain1801

1801 Naval Chron. 6 103 He was captain of a gun at the Battle of the Nile.

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. vii. 85 The captain of the main-top was there with two other sailors.

1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 208 No. 1, the Captain [of a gun] commands, attends the breech, primes, points, and fires.

1882 Navy List July 459 Captain of Quarter-deck Men, Captain of the Forecastle, Captain of the Foretop, Captain of the Hold, etc.

a. The master or commander of a merchant ship or of any kind of vessel.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > [noun] > captain or master

skipper1390

master shipmana1393

master mariner?a1400

shipmanc1405

shipmasterc1440

commanderc1450

patron1490

shipper1496

ship-governor1526

reis1585

nakhoda?1606

sea-captain1612

malem1615

manjee1683

captain1705

patroon1719

old man1821

owner1903

1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 6 Our Captain thought his Ship in so great Danger.

1822 J. Flint Lett. from Amer. 144 The persons who take the charge of keel-boats are also Captains.

1858 Mercantile Marine Mag. 5 39 Capt. Baker had every confidence in the ship.

1873 J. Morley Rousseau II. 55 A kidnapper of coolies or the captain of a slaver.

b. The pilot of a civil aircraft.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > air or space travel > people who fly in aircraft or spacecraft > [noun] > person in control of aircraft or spacecraft > person in control of aircraft > captain of aircraft > civilian

captain1929

1929 Proc. Internat. Civil Aeronaut. Conf. 253 It will be indispensable..that a uniform juridical system govern..the aircraft, its owner..its captain and crew, as well as the passenger.

1955 Times 13 May 7/1 Having decided to retire from commercial flying after being an airline captain continuously since 1922 [etc.].

8. The superintendent or manager of a mine (in Cornwall, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > miner > [noun] > mine manager or overseer

mine master1598

captain1602

reeve1753

1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 10 Their Ouerseer, whome they terme their Captaine.

1759 W. Borlase in Philos. Trans. 1758 (Royal Soc.) 50 504 This very intelligent captain of the mine observes, etc.

1852 Leisure Hour 632 (note) .

1864 B. Lloyd Ladies Polcarrow 16.

a. The foreman of a company of workmen or of a workshop in various trades. (Cf. also 6b.)

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to status > [noun] > overseer or foreman

stewarda1400

surveyorc1440

supervisorc1454

overlookera1513

workmaster1525

supervisora1529

foreman1574

superintendent1575

overman1606

headman1725

overseer1766

gang leader1775

hagmaster1797

maistry1798

gangsman1803

kangany1817

capataz1826

gangman1830

ganger1836

gaffer1841

gang boss1863

ramrod1881

charge-man1885

mandor1885

captain1886

overganger1887

ephor1890

pusher1901

gangster1913

line manager1960

1886 Newspaper D. H., ‘captain’ of Messrs. Davies' [tailors'] shop, said that he never saw a coat worse made.

b. One in charge of a group of waiters or bellboys in a hotel. Chiefly U.S.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > subjection > service > servant > types of servant > [noun] > who runs errands > boy > in an hotel or inn > supervisor

bell captain1926

captain1942

1942 L. Bemelmans Hotel Splendide iii. 43 These two have been nothing but waiter and captain for twenty years.

1942 L. Bemelmans Hotel Splendide iii. 44 Captains, ah! Maîtres d'hôtel they call themselves.

1952 M. Steen Phoenix Rising iii. 59 He indicated his wants to the waiter... The captain went to his table..and nodded sharply to the waiter.

1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 3 Feb. 23/1 The Imperial Room opened when the hotel was built in 1929 (one captain and one waiter have been there from the beginning).

10. The head boy of a school, or of a form in it.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > learning > learner > one attending school > [noun] > head boy or girl

captain1706

head boy1713

head girl1801

1706 Spectator No. 307. ⁋13 Every Boy is bound to have as good a Memory as the Captain of the Form.

1730 Etoniana x. 156 There was a speech made by the captain.

1825 W. Scott in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Sir W. Scott (1839) VIII. 149 A schoolboy who writes himself Captain of Giggleswick School.

1864 Blackwood's Mag. 96 226 The late captain of Harrow..gives it as his opinion that the small houses have their necessary advantages.

11. In Cricket, Football, and other sports: The leader of a side or team, the chief of a club, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [noun] > leader of side or club

captain1823

skipper1830

protagonist1894

1823 Miss Mitford in Lady's Mag. July 387/1 Our captain applied to him instantly to play.

1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. v. 114 Old Brooke is talking to the captain of quarters [at foot-ball].

1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 394 And then the Captain of the eleven!..what a post is his in our School-world!

1865 (title) The Rob Roy on the Jordan..By J. Macgregor, Captain of the Royal Canoe Club.

1884 Harper's Mag. Jan. 299/1 They [bowling club] have a captain, and a treasurer.

12. As a term of address (without implying any office or rank). familiar or slang. Cf. ‘governor’.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > familiar form of address

mon amic1425

matec1500

boy1532

old lad1594

old boy1602

captaina1616

mon cher1673

old chap1823

old man1828

ou maat1838

boysie1846

old top1856

boetie1867

bra1869

cocker1888

mon vieux1888

face1891

yessir1892

George1903

old sport1905

old bean1917

segotia1917

babe1918

bro1918

tovarish1918

old egg1919

midear1921

old (tin of) fruit1923

sport1923

mush1936

cowboy1961

coz1961

wack1963

yaar1963

John1982

a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) ii. ii. 72 Why how now Captaine? what do you in this wise Company?

a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) i. ii. 124 Come Captaine, We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, Captaine.

1862 W. H. Russell My Diary North & South I. xiii. 139 All the people who addressed me by name prefixed ‘Major’ or ‘Colonel’. ‘Captain’ is very low..The conductor who took our tickets was called ‘Captain’.

III. Senses relating to fish.

13. A name for the Grey Gurnard.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > order Scorpaeniformes (scorpion-fish) > [noun] > family Triglidae (gurnards) > member of family Triglidae (gurnard)

gurnard1314

mop1466

kite-fish1684

trigla1752

pigfish1807

captain1811

sea-robin1814

mailed or armed gurnard1836

robin1853

sclerogenoid1861

grumbler1867

triglid1888

trigloid1888

?1527 L. Andrewe tr. Noble Lyfe Bestes sig. qiiii^v Capitaius is a lytel fisshe with a great hede, a wyde rounde mouthe.]

1811 P. Neill in Mem. Wernerian Nat. Hist. Soc. 1 539 Grey Gurnard; Crooner... It is known by a variety of other names, as Captain, Hardhead, Goukmey and Woof.

Compounds

C1. General attributive.

captain-craft n.

ΚΠ

1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. xxiv. 153 There were some mysteries in the Captain-craft.

captain-commandant n.

ΚΠ

1876 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. (rev. ed.) IV. xv. 419 Commissioned..as captain-commandant for Pittsburg.

captain-hackum n.

ΚΠ

1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Captain-hackum, a Fighting, Blustering, Bully.

captain-sharp n.

ΚΠ

1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Captain-sharp, a great Cheat; also a Huffing, yet Sneaking, Cowardly Bully.

captain donatary n.

ΚΠ

1877 R. H. Major Discov. Prince Henry x. 131 Prince Henry..gave Cabral the rank of Captain Donatary.

C2.

captain's biscuit n. a hard variety of fancy biscuit.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > biscuit > [noun] > other biscuits

dorcake14..

cracknelc1440

hard breada1500

crackling1598

Naples biscuit1650

gingerbread man1686

chocolate biscuit1702

biscotin1723

sponge biscuit1736

maple biscuita1753

butter biscuit1758

nut1775

Oliver biscuit1786

funeral biscuit1790

rock biscuit?1790

ratafia1801

finger biscuit1812

Savoy drop1816

lady's finger1818

snap1819

Abernethy1830

pretzel1831

wine-biscuit1834

gingersnap1838

captain's biscuit1843

lebkuchen1847

simnel1854

sugar cookie1854

peppernut1862

McClellan pie1863

Savoy ring1866

Brown George1867

beaten biscuit1876

digestive1876

Osborne1876

Bath Oliver1878

marie1878

boer biscuit1882

charcoal biscuit1885

biscotti1886

fairing1888

snickerdoodle1889

pfeffernuss1891

zwieback1894

Nice1895

Garibaldi biscuit1896

Oswegoc1900

squashed fly1900

amaretto1905

boerebeskuit1905

Romary1905

petit beurre1906

Oswego biscuit1907

soetkoekie1910

Oreo1912

custard cream1916

Anzac1923

sweet biscuit1929

langue de chat1931

Bourbon biscuit1932

Afghan1934

flapjack1935

Florentine1936

chocolate chip cookie1938

choc chip cookie1940

Toll House cookie1940

tuile1943

pizzelle1949

black and white1967

Romany Cream1970

papri1978

1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) v. 63 He took a captain's biscuit.

† captain-pacha n. Obsolete see capitan n.

Draft additions 1993

The adult leader of a company of Girl Guides.Although formally replaced by Guide Leader in 1966, the term continued in use unofficially for some years.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > specific societies or organizations > [noun] > specific youth organizations > members of scouts or guides

Boy Scout1908

patrol leader1908

scout1908

scoutmaster1908

tenderfoot1908

captain1909

Girl Guide1909

Girl Scout1909

lieutenant1909

pathfinder1911

sea scout1911

rosebud1914

brownie1916

sixer1916

tenderpad1916

Brown Owl1918

rover1918

Rover Scout1918

ranger1920

tawny owl1921

Cub1922

Akela1924

scouter1930

Guider1931

den mother1936

Queen's Guide1946

Queen's Scout1952

Venture Scout1966

Beaver1975

skipper1986

1909 R. Baden-Powell Girl Guides: Suggestion for Character Training (Pamphlet A) 6 The unit for work or play is the ‘Patrol’ of eight girls, of whom one is ‘Patrol Leader’, another the ‘Corporal’. Three or more Patrols form a Company under a ‘Captain’ and a ‘Lieutenant’.

1926 R. Kerr Commissioner's Bk. 196 Once a Ranger Company has been formed, the Captain should try and keep in touch with the Guide Companies that feed the Rangers.

1957 Encycl. Brit. X. 368/2 The Guides are organized in patrols of six or eight under a leader, two or more patrols forming a company under a captain.

1966 Tomorrow's Guide (Girl Guides Assoc.) iii. 21 Guide Leader [and] Assistant Guide Leader..should be used instead of Captain and Lieutenant. We believe that the time has come to drop the terms Captain and Lieutenant which, when used in conjunction with each other, have a military sound.

1976 Norwich Mercury 10 Dec. 2/1 She is retiring from her post of Captain..and handing over to Mrs. Dianne Perrott—who..is her present lieutenant.

Draft additions September 2013

captain's table n. (on a ship) the dining table presided over by the captain and used by high-ranking crew or invited guests.

ΚΠ

1589 R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations iii. 674 Iohn Drake dieted at the captains table.

1667 S. Pepys Diary 5 Mar. (1974) VIII. 97 How he doth keep his Captain's table, and by that means hath the command of his Captains.

1782 R. Bage Mt. Henneth I. 178 Officers, clerks, and passengers dined and supped, if they chose, at the captain's table.

1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick xxxiv. 166 In strange contrast to the..constraint and nameless invisible domineerings of the captain's table, was..the almost frantic democracy of..the harpooneers.

1986 A. Powell Fisher King i. 8 Gary Lament..would, as a Fleet Street notability, undoubtedly have taken up a place at the Captain's table.

2011 N.Y. Mag. 31 Oct. 78/2 Joining him at the Cat's Table—the least desirable table in a ship's dining room, at the furthest distance from the Captain's Table—are..a motley of single adults.

Draft additions December 2022

Captain Obvious n. (also with lower-case initials) (a sarcastic or disparaging name for) someone who makes an obvious or superfluous statement.

1990 L. E. Blair Drummer Girl iv. 33 ‘But you're a girl,’ the guy said in surprise. This guy was getting on my nerves. ‘You are Captain Obvious, aren't you?’ I shot back.

2007 S. Alexie Absolutely true Diary Part-time Indian 203 ‘You're very vulnerable right now.’.. I was a reservation Indian attending an all-white school and my sister had just died some horrible death. I was the most vulnerable kid in the United States. Miss Warren was obviously trying to win the Captain Obvious Award.

2022 @BugAcer 21 Mar. in twitter.com (accessed 22 Mar. 2022) Thanks captain obvious! Like we couldn't figure that out ourselves.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2022).

单词	captain
释义	captainn. Brit. /ˈkapt(ᵻ)n/, U.S. /ˈkæpt(ə)n/ Forms: α. Middle English capitain, capitayn, capitane, capitein, Middle English capytayn, capytein, capeteigne, Middle English–1500s capitayne, capytayne, Middle English–1600s capitaine, 1500s capitan, 1600s Scottish capitane; β. Middle English capteyn, Middle English captayn, captan, Middle English–1600s captayne, 1500s–1600s captaine, 1600s Scottish captane, Middle English– captain. Etymology: Middle English capitain, < late Old French (14th cent.) capitaine, capitain, < late Latin capitāneus, capitānus adjective ‘chief, principal’, noun ‘chief, headman’, < caput, capit- head. Had Latin capitāneus been an old word, which lived on in French, its Old French form would have been catain , chatain ( < captāneum ); being of somewhat later (10–11th cent. origin) the actual Old French form was cata-nië , cataigne , chataigne ; a still later (12th cent.) semipopular form, preserving the intertonic i of capitāneus , was chevetaine (whence English chieftain n.). Capitaine was again a much later adaptation of the Latin. I. A chief or headman. 1. a. One who stands at the head of others and leads them, or exercises authority over them; a headman, chief, or leader. Now only as figurative use of special senses. ΘΚΠ society > authority > [noun] > those in authority > person in authority > head or chief headeOE headmanOE headsmanOE masterlinga1200 dukec1275 chevetaine1297 chief1297 headlingc1300 principalc1325 captainc1380 primatec1384 chieftainc1400 master-man1424 principate1483 grand captain1531 headmaster?1545 knap of the casec1555 capitano1594 muqaddam1598 mudaliyar1662 reis1677 sachem1684 doge1705 prytanis1790 gam1827 main guy1882 oga1917 ras1935 c1380 J. Wyclif De Eccles. ix, in Sel. Wks. III. 360 It were good to obeishe to Petre, and þat sich a captein were in þe Chirche. 1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. lviij/2 Thou hast ben capytayn ayenst the fayth. ?1510 T. More in tr. G. F. Pico della Mirandola Lyfe I. Picus sig. f.i Crist our lord and souereyne captaine. 1611 Bible (King James) Heb. ii. 10 The Captaine of their saluation. View more context for this quotation 1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 50 Homer, that Captain of all Poetry. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues II. 435 He [sc. Homer] is the great captain and teacher of all that goodly band of Tragic writers. b. captain of industry n. an industrial magnate. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to status > [noun] > industrial magnate captain of industry1843 industrial1887 1843 T. Carlyle Past & Present iv. iv. 361 (heading) Captains of Industry. 1896 G. B. Shaw in Sat. Rev. 4 July 14/1 Attentive observers of great ‘captains of industry’ know that their success often comes to them in spite of themselves. 1931 Economist 10 Jan. 51/2 A representative conference of trade union leaders and captains of industry. 1933 J. M. Keynes Ess. in Biogr. i. iii. 42 Mr. Bonar Law has liked to think of himself as..handling wars and empires and revolutions with the coolness and limited purpose of a first-class captain of industry. 2. esp. A military leader; a commander of a body of troops, of a fortress, castle, etc. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > [noun] heretogac900 marshal1258 chevetaine1297 chieftainc1330 arrayerc1370 governora1382 master of (the) chivalrya1382 leadera1387 war-headlinga1400 emperorc1400 captain1450 conductor1483 grand captain1531 commendador1580 lodesman1581 conducta1592 commander1598 induperator1599 war-captain1610 war-chief1610 war-leader1610 most mastera1616 commandant1687 commandant-general1827 baron1919 1450 W. Somner in Four C. Eng. Lett. 4 Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) viii. 452 Thai of the castell..tald it to thair capitane. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Judges i. 1 Who shall..be oure Captayne of warre against y^e Cananites? a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) ii. ii. 134 That in the Captaine's but a chollericke word, Which in the Souldier is flat blasphemie. View more context for this quotation 1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. ii. xviii. 226 It is a saying, that Such as the captaine is, such is the souldier. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1653 Lords, Ladies, Captains, Councellors, or Priests. View more context for this quotation 1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 190. ⁋2 The captains of thousands awaited his commands. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 200 Of all the Irish captains the most dreaded and the most abhorred. 3. A military leader of skill and experience; an able general or commander; a strategist. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > war > war as profession or skill > [noun] > tactics > strategist or tactician general1579 captain1590 encamper1598 soldier1603 tactic1638 tactician1798 manoeuvrera1805 strategist1821 society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > [noun] > skilled or able Hannibal1585 captain1590 1590 A. Cope (title) The History of two most noble Captaynes of the World, Anniball and Scipio. 1689 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 297 Authors of sects, great captains and politicians. 1701 J. Swift Disc. Contests Nobles & Commons ii. 16 Miltiades..is reckon'd to have been the first great Captain not only of Athens, but of all Greece. 1838 T. B. Macaulay in Edinb. Rev. Oct. 116 Condé and Turenne will always be considered as captains of a very different order from the invincible Louis. 1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) II. x. 477 The world first fully learned how great a captain England had in her future King. II. The head of a division. 4. gen. A subordinate officer holding command under a sovereign, a general, or the like. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer or soldier of rank > [noun] > subordinate officer captainc1380 under-officerc1400 petty officer1587 subaltern?1608 sub-officer1609 subaltern officer1611 sub1710 company officer1786 C.P.O.1907 c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 323 Folk, þat weren þe fendis capteyns in killing of martiris. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Macc. xv. 38 The kynge made Cendebeus captayne of the see coost. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III v. v. 61 O thou whose Captaine I account my selfe..Make vs thy ministers of chastisement. View more context for this quotation 1610 Bible (Douay) II. Lament. i. comm. His capitaine Nabuzardan spoyled al. 1611 Bible (King James) Deut. i. 15 Captaines ouer fifties, and captaines ouer tennes, and officers among your tribes. View more context for this quotation 1830 J. Sparks S. Cabot in Amer. Biogr. ii. 109 On Cabot's arrival..he gave him the title of his Captain. 5. spec. a. In the army: The officer who commands a company of infantry or foot artillery, or a troop of cavalry or horse artillery, ranking between the major and the lieutenant. The grade is the third in order of promotion. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer by rank > [noun] > captain captain1567 cap1759 cap'n1829 1567 Confed. Popish Princes in J. Strype Ann. Reformation I. ii. l. 538 The principall lievetenaunts and capytaines. 1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres ii. 15 Regiment [divided] into companies, ouer every company a Captaine. 1641 Sc. Acts. (1870) V. App. 679/2 Petitione be the Lieutenant Colonellis and Majoris..desyring the pay of ane captaine. 1814 W. Scott Waverley I. v. 62 Captain Waverley, of the —— regiment of dragoons. View more context for this quotation 1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) II. 347 Who had now risen to the rank of captain. b. An officer in the Salvation Army. ΘΚΠ society > faith > sect > Christianity > Protestantism > salvationism > [noun] > person > officer captain1878 lieutenant1884 major1907 1878 Christian Mission Mag. Dec. 320 These stray remarks added to the interest we felt in our contemplated visit to the command of Captain Louise Agar. 1884 W. Booth General's Lett. 6 Dec. (1890) 18 Go to the crowd of sinners, or spot them individually..because out of them you may make Lieutenants, and Captains, and Majors, and Generals. 1965 R. Collier General next to God iii. 75 Not all in those pioneer years could afford..a guinea for a captain's outfit. c. U.S. A police officer ranking between chief officer and lieutenant; one who commands a precinct or division. ΘΚΠ society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman > policeman of specific rank > foreign duffadar1782 police captain1832 lieutenant1907 captain1909 1909 L. F. Fuld Police Admin. ii. 57 An officer called a captain is placed in charge of each precinct. 1926 J. Black You can't Win iv. 32 One of the detectives went into an office..and came out at once with a man in uniform he called ‘captain’. 1932 W. Faulkner Light in August iv. 81 Captain McLendon said, ‘I don't reckon about it at all.’ 1978 J. Wambaugh Black Marble iv. 48 ‘Sometimes a fellow shouldn't work homicide that long,’ Captain Hooker offered. 6. a. The officer who commands a man-of-war. In the British navy, the title of an officer who ranks between a rear-admiral or a commodore and a commander. The title is also often given by courtesy to a commander. Captain of the Fleet: an officer, temporarily appointed by the admiralty, who acts as adjutant-general of a naval force, carries out all orders issued by the commander-in-chief, but whose special duty it is to keep up the discipline of the fleet; he wears the uniform of a rear-admiral. Captain of the Port: an officer of the Board of Health who ‘controls the entries and departures, the berthing at the anchorage, and general marine duties in a port, but possesses no naval authority. Hence, the port-captain is quite another officer’ (Smyth Sailor's Word-bk.). ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > seafaring warrior or naval man > leader or commander > [noun] > naval officer > captain captain1555 1555 R. Eden Two Viages into Guinea in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 345^v This capitayne Wyndam, puttyng furth of his shyp at Porchmouth. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. i. 107 This Villaine heere, Being Captaine of a Pinnace. View more context for this quotation 1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 1 The Captaines charge is to commaund all, and tell the Maister to what Port he will go. 1745 Observ. conc. Navy 36 A Captain of a Man of War of the Line, is equal in Rank to a Colonel. 1804 G. Rose Diaries (1860) II. 194 Captain Prescott, a commander in the navy. 1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy II. vi. 156 The captain of the frigate. b. Applied to the chief sailor of a gang of men to whom the duties of a certain portion of the ship are assigned, as captain of the forecastle, captain of the hold, captain of the maintop, etc. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > sailors involved in specific duties or activities > [noun] > chief sailor of part of ship captain1801 1801 Naval Chron. 6 103 He was captain of a gun at the Battle of the Nile. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. vii. 85 The captain of the main-top was there with two other sailors. 1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 208 No. 1, the Captain [of a gun] commands, attends the breech, primes, points, and fires. 1882 Navy List July 459 Captain of Quarter-deck Men, Captain of the Forecastle, Captain of the Foretop, Captain of the Hold, etc. 7. a. The master or commander of a merchant ship or of any kind of vessel. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > [noun] > captain or master skipper1390 master shipmana1393 master mariner?a1400 shipmanc1405 shipmasterc1440 commanderc1450 patron1490 shipper1496 ship-governor1526 reis1585 nakhoda?1606 sea-captain1612 malem1615 manjee1683 captain1705 patroon1719 old man1821 owner1903 1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 6 Our Captain thought his Ship in so great Danger. 1822 J. Flint Lett. from Amer. 144 The persons who take the charge of keel-boats are also Captains. 1858 Mercantile Marine Mag. 5 39 Capt. Baker had every confidence in the ship. 1873 J. Morley Rousseau II. 55 A kidnapper of coolies or the captain of a slaver. b. The pilot of a civil aircraft. ΘΚΠ society > travel > air or space travel > people who fly in aircraft or spacecraft > [noun] > person in control of aircraft or spacecraft > person in control of aircraft > captain of aircraft > civilian captain1929 1929 Proc. Internat. Civil Aeronaut. Conf. 253 It will be indispensable..that a uniform juridical system govern..the aircraft, its owner..its captain and crew, as well as the passenger. 1955 Times 13 May 7/1 Having decided to retire from commercial flying after being an airline captain continuously since 1922 [etc.]. 8. The superintendent or manager of a mine (in Cornwall, etc.). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > miner > [noun] > mine manager or overseer mine master1598 captain1602 reeve1753 1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 10 Their Ouerseer, whome they terme their Captaine. 1759 W. Borlase in Philos. Trans. 1758 (Royal Soc.) 50 504 This very intelligent captain of the mine observes, etc. 1852 Leisure Hour 632 (note) . 1864 B. Lloyd Ladies Polcarrow 16. 9. a. The foreman of a company of workmen or of a workshop in various trades. (Cf. also 6b.) ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to status > [noun] > overseer or foreman stewarda1400 surveyorc1440 supervisorc1454 overlookera1513 workmaster1525 supervisora1529 foreman1574 superintendent1575 overman1606 headman1725 overseer1766 gang leader1775 hagmaster1797 maistry1798 gangsman1803 kangany1817 capataz1826 gangman1830 ganger1836 gaffer1841 gang boss1863 ramrod1881 charge-man1885 mandor1885 captain1886 overganger1887 ephor1890 pusher1901 gangster1913 line manager1960 1886 Newspaper D. H., ‘captain’ of Messrs. Davies' [tailors'] shop, said that he never saw a coat worse made. b. One in charge of a group of waiters or bellboys in a hotel. Chiefly U.S. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > service > servant > types of servant > [noun] > who runs errands > boy > in an hotel or inn > supervisor bell captain1926 captain1942 1942 L. Bemelmans Hotel Splendide iii. 43 These two have been nothing but waiter and captain for twenty years. 1942 L. Bemelmans Hotel Splendide iii. 44 Captains, ah! Maîtres d'hôtel they call themselves. 1952 M. Steen Phoenix Rising iii. 59 He indicated his wants to the waiter... The captain went to his table..and nodded sharply to the waiter. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 3 Feb. 23/1 The Imperial Room opened when the hotel was built in 1929 (one captain and one waiter have been there from the beginning). 10. The head boy of a school, or of a form in it. ΘΚΠ society > education > learning > learner > one attending school > [noun] > head boy or girl captain1706 head boy1713 head girl1801 1706 Spectator No. 307. ⁋13 Every Boy is bound to have as good a Memory as the Captain of the Form. 1730 Etoniana x. 156 There was a speech made by the captain. 1825 W. Scott in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Sir W. Scott (1839) VIII. 149 A schoolboy who writes himself Captain of Giggleswick School. 1864 Blackwood's Mag. 96 226 The late captain of Harrow..gives it as his opinion that the small houses have their necessary advantages. 11. In Cricket, Football, and other sports: The leader of a side or team, the chief of a club, etc. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [noun] > leader of side or club captain1823 skipper1830 protagonist1894 1823 Miss Mitford in Lady's Mag. July 387/1 Our captain applied to him instantly to play. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. v. 114 Old Brooke is talking to the captain of quarters [at foot-ball]. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 394 And then the Captain of the eleven!..what a post is his in our School-world! 1865 (title) The Rob Roy on the Jordan..By J. Macgregor, Captain of the Royal Canoe Club. 1884 Harper's Mag. Jan. 299/1 They [bowling club] have a captain, and a treasurer. 12. As a term of address (without implying any office or rank). familiar or slang. Cf. ‘governor’. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > familiar form of address mon amic1425 matec1500 boy1532 old lad1594 old boy1602 captaina1616 mon cher1673 old chap1823 old man1828 ou maat1838 boysie1846 old top1856 boetie1867 bra1869 cocker1888 mon vieux1888 face1891 yessir1892 George1903 old sport1905 old bean1917 segotia1917 babe1918 bro1918 tovarish1918 old egg1919 midear1921 old (tin of) fruit1923 sport1923 mush1936 cowboy1961 coz1961 wack1963 yaar1963 John1982 a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) ii. ii. 72 Why how now Captaine? what do you in this wise Company? View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) i. ii. 124 Come Captaine, We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, Captaine. View more context for this quotation 1862 W. H. Russell My Diary North & South I. xiii. 139 All the people who addressed me by name prefixed ‘Major’ or ‘Colonel’. ‘Captain’ is very low..The conductor who took our tickets was called ‘Captain’. III. Senses relating to fish. 13. A name for the Grey Gurnard. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > order Scorpaeniformes (scorpion-fish) > [noun] > family Triglidae (gurnards) > member of family Triglidae (gurnard) gurnard1314 mop1466 kite-fish1684 trigla1752 pigfish1807 captain1811 sea-robin1814 mailed or armed gurnard1836 robin1853 sclerogenoid1861 grumbler1867 triglid1888 trigloid1888 ?1527 L. Andrewe tr. Noble Lyfe Bestes sig. qiiii^v Capitaius is a lytel fisshe with a great hede, a wyde rounde mouthe.] 1811 P. Neill in Mem. Wernerian Nat. Hist. Soc. 1 539 Grey Gurnard; Crooner... It is known by a variety of other names, as Captain, Hardhead, Goukmey and Woof. Compounds C1. General attributive. captain-craft n. ΚΠ 1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. xxiv. 153 There were some mysteries in the Captain-craft. captain-commandant n. ΚΠ 1876 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. (rev. ed.) IV. xv. 419 Commissioned..as captain-commandant for Pittsburg. captain-hackum n. ΚΠ 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Captain-hackum, a Fighting, Blustering, Bully. captain-sharp n. ΚΠ 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Captain-sharp, a great Cheat; also a Huffing, yet Sneaking, Cowardly Bully. captain donatary n. ΚΠ 1877 R. H. Major Discov. Prince Henry x. 131 Prince Henry..gave Cabral the rank of Captain Donatary. C2. captain's biscuit n. a hard variety of fancy biscuit. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > biscuit > [noun] > other biscuits dorcake14.. cracknelc1440 hard breada1500 crackling1598 Naples biscuit1650 gingerbread man1686 chocolate biscuit1702 biscotin1723 sponge biscuit1736 maple biscuita1753 butter biscuit1758 nut1775 Oliver biscuit1786 funeral biscuit1790 rock biscuit?1790 ratafia1801 finger biscuit1812 Savoy drop1816 lady's finger1818 snap1819 Abernethy1830 pretzel1831 wine-biscuit1834 gingersnap1838 captain's biscuit1843 lebkuchen1847 simnel1854 sugar cookie1854 peppernut1862 McClellan pie1863 Savoy ring1866 Brown George1867 beaten biscuit1876 digestive1876 Osborne1876 Bath Oliver1878 marie1878 boer biscuit1882 charcoal biscuit1885 biscotti1886 fairing1888 snickerdoodle1889 pfeffernuss1891 zwieback1894 Nice1895 Garibaldi biscuit1896 Oswegoc1900 squashed fly1900 amaretto1905 boerebeskuit1905 Romary1905 petit beurre1906 Oswego biscuit1907 soetkoekie1910 Oreo1912 custard cream1916 Anzac1923 sweet biscuit1929 langue de chat1931 Bourbon biscuit1932 Afghan1934 flapjack1935 Florentine1936 chocolate chip cookie1938 choc chip cookie1940 Toll House cookie1940 tuile1943 pizzelle1949 black and white1967 Romany Cream1970 papri1978 1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) v. 63 He took a captain's biscuit. † captain-pacha n. Obsolete see capitan n. Draft additions 1993 The adult leader of a company of Girl Guides.Although formally replaced by Guide Leader in 1966, the term continued in use unofficially for some years. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > specific societies or organizations > [noun] > specific youth organizations > members of scouts or guides Boy Scout1908 patrol leader1908 scout1908 scoutmaster1908 tenderfoot1908 captain1909 Girl Guide1909 Girl Scout1909 lieutenant1909 pathfinder1911 sea scout1911 rosebud1914 brownie1916 sixer1916 tenderpad1916 Brown Owl1918 rover1918 Rover Scout1918 ranger1920 tawny owl1921 Cub1922 Akela1924 scouter1930 Guider1931 den mother1936 Queen's Guide1946 Queen's Scout1952 Venture Scout1966 Beaver1975 skipper1986 1909 R. Baden-Powell Girl Guides: Suggestion for Character Training (Pamphlet A) 6 The unit for work or play is the ‘Patrol’ of eight girls, of whom one is ‘Patrol Leader’, another the ‘Corporal’. Three or more Patrols form a Company under a ‘Captain’ and a ‘Lieutenant’. 1926 R. Kerr Commissioner's Bk. 196 Once a Ranger Company has been formed, the Captain should try and keep in touch with the Guide Companies that feed the Rangers. 1957 Encycl. Brit. X. 368/2 The Guides are organized in patrols of six or eight under a leader, two or more patrols forming a company under a captain. 1966 Tomorrow's Guide (Girl Guides Assoc.) iii. 21 Guide Leader [and] Assistant Guide Leader..should be used instead of Captain and Lieutenant. We believe that the time has come to drop the terms Captain and Lieutenant which, when used in conjunction with each other, have a military sound. 1976 Norwich Mercury 10 Dec. 2/1 She is retiring from her post of Captain..and handing over to Mrs. Dianne Perrott—who..is her present lieutenant. Draft additions September 2013 captain's table n. (on a ship) the dining table presided over by the captain and used by high-ranking crew or invited guests. ΚΠ 1589 R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations iii. 674 Iohn Drake dieted at the captains table. 1667 S. Pepys Diary 5 Mar. (1974) VIII. 97 How he doth keep his Captain's table, and by that means hath the command of his Captains. 1782 R. Bage Mt. Henneth I. 178 Officers, clerks, and passengers dined and supped, if they chose, at the captain's table. 1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick xxxiv. 166 In strange contrast to the..constraint and nameless invisible domineerings of the captain's table, was..the almost frantic democracy of..the harpooneers. 1986 A. Powell Fisher King i. 8 Gary Lament..would, as a Fleet Street notability, undoubtedly have taken up a place at the Captain's table. 2011 N.Y. Mag. 31 Oct. 78/2 Joining him at the Cat's Table—the least desirable table in a ship's dining room, at the furthest distance from the Captain's Table—are..a motley of single adults. Draft additions December 2022 Captain Obvious n. (also with lower-case initials) (a sarcastic or disparaging name for) someone who makes an obvious or superfluous statement. Π 1990 L. E. Blair Drummer Girl iv. 33 ‘But you're a girl,’ the guy said in surprise. This guy was getting on my nerves. ‘You are Captain Obvious, aren't you?’ I shot back. 2007 S. Alexie Absolutely true Diary Part-time Indian 203 ‘You're very vulnerable right now.’.. I was a reservation Indian attending an all-white school and my sister had just died some horrible death. I was the most vulnerable kid in the United States. Miss Warren was obviously trying to win the Captain Obvious Award. 2022 @BugAcer 21 Mar. in twitter.com (accessed 22 Mar. 2022) Thanks captain obvious! Like we couldn't figure that out ourselves. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2022). † captainadj. /ˈkaptɪn/ Etymology: In part perhaps < medieval Latin capitāneus chief, principal; but in many cases not to be distinguished from an attributive use of captain n. Obsolete. Chief, principal, leading, head-. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > pre-eminence > [adjective] firsteOE headOE highOE greatc1350 upperestc1374 chief1377 singular1377 principala1382 royalc1425 cardinal1440 pre-eminenta1460 praisea1475 main1480 maina1525 primary1565 captain1566 arch1574 mistressa1586 capital1597 topless1609 primea1616 metropolitan1635 transeminent1660 whole1675 uppermost1680 primus inter pares1688 topping1694 Sudder1787 par excellence1839 banner1840 primatial1892 1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. B He lays it to the captaine heape, Whereof it rose, and grew. 1566 T. Stapleton Returne Vntruthes Jewelles Replie iv. 50 A manifest and Captain Untruthe. 1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxiii. 120 Sound sleepe, the captaine cause of good digestion. 1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets lii. sig. D3^v Like stones of worth..Or captaine jewells in the carconet. View more context for this quotation 1631 R. Bolton Instr. Right Comf. Affl. Consciences 177 Some Captaine, and Commanding sinne. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online March 2021). captainv. Brit. /ˈkapt(ᵻ)n/, U.S. /ˈkæpt(ə)n/ Etymology: < captain n. a. transitive. To act as captain to, lead as captain, head. ΘΚΠ society > authority > [verb (transitive)] > have authority over > as captain or head headc1390 captain1598 to head up1904 1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres ii. 24 Captained as we are, our blind ignorance may chance breed our owne woe. 1700 T. Southerne Fate of Capua i. i This head-long rout..Is captain'd, headed, and led on by some. 1814 R. Southey Roderick xiv. 171 Who call'd them to the field, who captain'd them. 1885 Manch. Evening News 29 May 2/4 Lord Harris captained the team. 1885 Sat. Rev. 4 July 1/2. b. intransitive. ΘΚΠ society > authority > [verb (intransitive)] > act as captain captain1671 1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love ii. 20 As if I were gone a Captaining to Flanders. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.c1380adj.1566v.1598
随便看	innateness innatenesses innater innatest innatism innative innato innato- innato-erumpent innato-fibrillose innato-sessile innato-squamulose innatoerumpent innatofibrillose innatosessile innatosquamulose innatural innaturality innaturalize innaturally innaturate innavigability innavigable innavigableness inne

captainn.

Compounds

Draft additions 1993

Draft additions September 2013

Draft additions December 2022

† captainadj.

captainv.