Ad"mi*ral (?), n. [OE. amiral,
admiral, OF. amiral, ultimately fr. Ar. amīr-al-
bahr commander of the sea; Ar. amīr is commander,
al is the Ar. article, and amīr-al, heard in different
titles, was taken as one word. Early forms of the word show confusion with
L. admirabilis admirable, fr. admirari to admire. It is said
to have been introduced into Europe by the Genoese or Venetians, in the
12th or 13th century. Cf. Ameer, Emir.] 1.
A naval officer of the highest rank; a naval officer of high rank, of
which there are different grades. The chief gradations in rank are
admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral. The
admiral is the commander in chief of a fleet or of fleets.
2. The ship which carries the admiral; also, the
most considerable ship of a fleet.
Like some mighty admiral, dark and terrible, bearing
down upon his antagonist with all his canvas straining to the wind, and all
his thunders roaring from his broadsides.
E. Everett.
3. (Zoöl.) A handsome butterfly
(Pyrameis Atalanta) of Europe and America. The larva feeds on
nettles.
Admiral shell (Zoöl.), the popular
name of an ornamental cone shell (Conus admiralis).
Lord High Admiral, a great officer of state, who
(when this rare dignity is conferred) is at the head of the naval
administration of Great Britain.