Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AD'MI-RAL, n. [In the Latin of the middle ages, amira, amiras, admiralis, an emir: Sp. almirante; Port. id.; It. ammiraglio; Fr. amiral; from Ar. أَمَرَ amara, to command, أَمِيرٌ, a commander; Sans. amara; Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. אמר, to speak. The terminating syllable of admiral may be ἁλς, the sea. This word is said to have been introduced into Europe by the Turks, Genoese or Venetians, in the 12th or 13th century.]

1. A marine commander in chief; the commander of a fleet or navy.
2. The lord high admiral, in Great Britain, is an officer who superintends all maritime affairs, and has the government of the navy. He has also jurisdiction over all maritime causes, and commissions the naval officers.
3. The admiral of the fleet, the highest officer under the Admiralty. When he embarks on an expedition, the union flag is displayed at the main top gallant mast head.
4. The vice admiral, an officer next in rank and command to the admiral, has command of the second squadron. He carries his flag at the fore top gallant mast head. This name is given also to certain officers who have power to hold courts of vice-admiralty, in various parts of the British dominions.
5. The rear admiral, next in rank to the vice admiral, has command of the third squadron, and carries his flag at the mizzen top gallant mast head.
6. The commander of any single fleet, or in general any flag officer.
7. The ship which carries the admiral; also the most considerable ship of a fleet of merchantmen, or of fishing vessels. – Encyc.
8. In zoology, a species of shell-fish. [See Voluta.]
9. A species of butterfly, which lays her eggs on the great stinging-nettle, and delights in brambles. – Encyc.