Admiral

ad′mir-al, n. the chief commander of a navy—the ancient English title of Lord High Admiral is now in abeyance, his functions falling to the five Lord Commi ioners of the Admiralty, and the High Court of Admiralty: a naval officer of the highest rank. In the British navy, admirals are distinguished into three cla es— Ad′mirals , Vice′-ad′mirals , and Rear′-ad′mirals ; the admiral carrying his colour at the main, the vice-admiral at the fore, and the rear-admiral at the mizzen mast-head. In former times each grade was subdivided into three sections, known as admirals (or vice or rear-admirals) of the Red, of the White, and of the Blue, respectively: admiral-ship (Milton's ammiral ) or flag-ship: the chief ship in a fleet of merchantmen.— ns. Ad′miralship , the office of an admiral; Ad′miralty , the board of commi ioners for the administration of naval affairs: the building where these transact busine . [Through Fr. from Ar. amīr , a lord, a chief.]