captain

{{Redirect|Cpt.|other uses|CPT (disambiguation){{!}}CPT}}

Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, etc. In militaries, the captain is typically at the level of an officer commanding a company or battalion of infantry, a ship, or a battery of artillery, or another distinct unit. It can also be a rank of command in an air force. The term also may be used as an informal or honorary title for persons in similar commanding roles.

Etymology

The word "captain" derives from the Middle English "capitane", itself coming from the Latin "caput", meaning "head".{{Cite web |date=2025-04-13 |title=Definition of CAPTAIN |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captain#word-history |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}} It is considered cognate with the Greek word {{Lang|grc-Latn|katepánō}} ({{Langx|grc|κατεπάνω}}, {{literally|[the one placed] at the top}}, or "the topmost"), which was used as title for a senior Byzantine military rank and office.{{Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 565–1204}}{{Page needed|date=May 2021}} The word was Latinized as {{langx|grc-Latn|capetanus or catepan}}. Both ultimately derive from the Proto-Indo-European "*kaput", also meaning head.{{Cite web |title=Etymology of "captain" by etymonline |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/captain |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=etymonline |language=en-US}}

Occupations or roles

Captain (armed forces), a commissioned officer rank corresponding to the field commander of a company of soldiers usually, or that of a battery of an artillery battalion (company second-in-command or specialist platoon commander in UK). It is also a rank of command in the air force.
Captain (naval), a commissioned officer rank in the navy, corresponding to the rank of Army colonel, Air force colonel.
Captain (nautical), a licensed person or civilian marine officer who is legally in command of a merchant ship, a yacht or another type of vessel that may or may not be carrying passengers for hire; corresponds to the work condition of shipmaster or, as usually said, master.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/travel/captain-kate-mccue-women-celebrity-cruises.html |last=Mzezewa |first=Tariro |date=February 25, 2019 |title=Please Call Her Captain |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 6, 2020}}
Captain (airlines), a licensed civilian airman or person who is legally in command of a civilian aircraft; corresponding to the work condition of pilot in command colloquially said PIC.
Fire captain, officer in a fire department.
Police captain, officer in a police organization.
Group Captain, a senior commissioned rank in many air forces.
Captain of industry, business leader.
Captain of the Port, harbour (UK) or Coast Guard (USA) post.
Precinct captain, political party's representative at an election precinct.
Barangay captain, Head of Barangay (Village) in the Philippines
School captain, student elected or appointed to represent the school.
Captain Regent, head of state of San Marino.
Captain-major, colonial officer of a Portuguese possession.
Captain-commandant, a Belgian military rank.
Katepano, a senior Byzantine officer (and word from which "captain" derived).
Kapudan Pasha
Kapitan Cina
Captal, a regional title in Southern France.

Military ranks

= Canada =

= Germany =

Kapitän bzw. „Kapitän zur See“ (Deutsche Marine), Nato OF-5 grade
Hauptmann, the german equivalent of Captain in Army (Armee/Heer) and Air Force (Luftwaffe)