commodore

[ kom-uh-dawr, -dohr ]

/ ˈkɒm əˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr /

Navy. a grade of flag officer next in rank below a rear admiral.

British Navy. an officer in temporary command of a squadron, sometimes over a captain on the same ship.

Navy. the senior captain when two or more ships of war are cruising in company.

(in the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marine) the officer in command of a convoy.

the senior captain of a line of merchant vessels.

the president or head of a yacht club or boat club.

Origin of commodore

1685–95; earlier commandore, perhaps < Dutch komandeur < French commandeur commander

A motley crew of former sailors led by Commodore Joshua Barney mounted the only real resistance to the British.

The Presidential Hopeful Obsessed With the War of 1812 |Ben Jacobs |September 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Examine photographs of Andrew Carnegie, J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Mellon, and Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Up To a Point: Robber Barons Make Way For Robber Nerds |P. J. O’Rourke |August 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He joined the local Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club there and by 1977 had reached the membership rank of commodore.

The Billionaire and the Fugitive |Meir Doron, Joseph Gelman |July 23, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard—“the Commodore”—had a passion for all things naval.

Is Scientology's Wall Cracking? |Kim Masters |June 28, 2009 |DAILY BEAST

Accordingly, the field-officers pointed the pieces in person, and the words "look to the commodore—look to the two-deckers!"

Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXII No. 4, April 1848 |Various
You call me commodore, and I think it is no more than fair that I should give you your proper title.

Breaking Away |Oliver Optic
There was no necessity to report, for commodore, captain, and all others heard the cry.

Fighting in Cuban Waters |Edward Stratemeyer
In our own day, we frequently hear, Commodore ——'s broad pendant was hoisted on the ship ——.

History of the National Flag of the United States of America |Schuyler Hamilton
I found twelve American captains prisoners on board the commodore's ship, who had been captured by the Squadron.

Journal of Voyages |Jacob Dunham

commodore

/ (ˈkɒməˌdɔː) /

British a naval rank junior to rear admiral and senior to captain

the senior captain of a shipping line

the officer in command of a convoy of merchant ships

the senior flag office of a yacht or boat club

C17: probably from Dutch commandeur, from French, from Old French commander to command