Cŏm'mo-dōre',, n.
n. [Probably a contraction or corruption of the It. comandatore, commander, L. Lat. commendator, or the Sp. comendador, a knight of a military order who holds a commandery, also a superior of a monastery, from L. Lat. commendare, to command. Cf. COMMEND and COMMAND.]
Sense 1. The officer who commands a squadron or detachment of ships destined on a particular enterprise.
Sense 2. (Eng. Marine.) A naval officer having the temporary rank of rear admiral. Brundle.
Sense 3. The senior captain, when two or more ships of war are cruising in company; — so called by courtesy. Totten.
Sense 4. The convoy or leading ship in a fleet of merchantmen, which carries a light in her top to conduct the other ships.