Skipper (boating)
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A skipper is a person who has command of a boat or ship. It is more or less equivalent to "captain". At sea, the skipper has absolute command over the crew. The skipper may, or may not, be the owner of the boat.
The word is derived from the Dutch word [schipper]; schip is Dutch for "ship". In Dutch sch- is pronounced [sx] (not [ʃ] as in German), and English-speakers rendered this as [sk].
The word "skipper" is used more than "captain" for some types of craft, for example trawlers.
In U.S. Navy slang, it is a term used in reference to the Commanding officer of any Ship, Unit, Platoon, or Detachment regardless of rank. It is generally only applied to someone who has earned the speaker's respect.
See also
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