Webster's English Dictionary

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captain

1. cap.tain \'kap-t*n\ \-se-\ \-.ship\ n [ME capitane, fr. MF capitain, fr. 
   LL capitaneus, adj. & n.,]chief, fr. L capit-, caput head - more at HEAD 
   1a: the commander of a body of troops or of a military establishment  1b: a 
   commander under a sovereign or general  1c1: an officer in charge of a ship 
    1c2: a commissioned officer in the navy ranking above a commander and 
   below  a commodore or a rear admiral 1d: a commissioned officer in the 
   army, air force, or marine corps ranking  above a first lieutenant and 
   below a major 1e: a distinguished military leader  1f: a leader of a side 
   or team  2: a dominant figure  - cap.tain.cy n
2. captain vt : to be captain of : LEAD