Literally, a head or chief officer; appropriately, the military officer who commands a company, whether of infantry, cavalry, artillery or matrosses.

The commander of a ship of war, or of a merchantman. But the latter is often called a master.

The commander of a military band, a sense that occurs in the sciptures; as a captain of fifty.

A man skilled in war or military affairs; as, Lord Wellington is a great captain.

A chief commander. But in this sense rarely used, but in composition. Captain-general, is the commander in chief of an army, or of the militia. The covernor of a state is Captain-General of the militia. Captain-Lieutenant, is an officer, who with the rank of captain and pay of lieutenant, commands a company or troop. Thus the colonel of a regiment being the captain of the first company, that company is commanded by a Captain-Lieutenant. Captain-Bashaw, or Capudan Bashaw, in Turkey, is the High Admiral.

Chief; valiant.