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Added 9 October 2026

captain

/ˈkæp.tɪn/ noun

Latin root: capitāneus Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about captain at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A chief or leader.
The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.
The captain is the last man to leave a sinking ship.
An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.

verb

To act as captain
To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.

Origin

From Middle English capitain, capteyn, from Old French capitaine, from Late Latin capitāneus, from Latin caput (“head”) (English cap). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-. Doublet of chieftain, also from Old French.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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