commodore

[ kom-uh-dawr, -dohr ]
/ ˈkɒm əˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr /

noun

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

Example sentences from the Web for commodore

British Dictionary definitions for commodore

commodore
/ (ˈkɒməˌdɔː) /

noun

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

Word Origin for commodore

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