An archaic or dialectal form of admiral, referring to a high-ranking naval officer commanding ships or fleets.
From Old French amiral, from Arabic amir-al (commander of the). The word evolved into modern English 'admiral' through Middle French and Norman influence during the medieval period.
The word 'amiral' shows how Arabic maritime terminology conquered European languages—when Arab and North African seafaring cultures dominated the Mediterranean, their naval ranks were adopted wholesale by European navies.
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