is a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

word usually translated as

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

when it is used as an officer's rank in the

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

, and Swiss armies. While in contemporary German means 'main', it also has and originally had the meaning of 'head', i.e. ' literally translates to 'head-man', which is also the etymological root of ''captain'' (from Latin , 'head'). It equates to the rank of captain in the British and US Armies, and is rated

OF-2 Ranks and insignia of NATO are combined military insignia used by the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The rank scale is used for specifying posts within NATO. Definitions NATO maintains a "standard rank scale" in ...

in NATO. Currently there is no female form, like ''Hauptfrau'' within the military, the correct form of address is "''Frau Hauptmann''". More generally, a Hauptmann can be the head of any hierarchically structured group of people, often as a compound word. For example, a is the captain of a fire brigade, while refers to the leader of a gang of robbers. Official Austrian and German titles incorporating the word include , , , and . In Saxony during the Weimar Republic, the titles of , and were held by senior civil servants. (from

Early Modern High German Early may refer to: History * The beginning or oldest part of a defined historical period, as opposed to middle or late periods, e.g.: ** Early Christianity ** Early modern Europe Places in the United States * Early, Iowa * Early, Texas * E ...

) is cognate with the Swedish , which also has the root meaning 'head-man' or 'the man at the head', and is closely related to , meaning ' chieftain'. Since medieval times, both titles have been used for state administrators rather than military personnel. may also be the origin of the title hetman, used in Central and Eastern Europe.

Austria

File:Bundesheer - Rank insignia - Hauptmann.png, Army

Germany

Rank insignia

On the shoulder straps (Heer, Luftwaffe) there are three silver pips (stars).

Switzerland

File:OF-5 CH.gif, Army

Swiss Guard

Rank insignia of Hauptmann (OF-2) Pontifical Swiss Guard.svg, Army

References

External links

Deutsches Wörterbuch, Hauptmann
{{German military ranks Military ranks of Germany Military ranks of Austria Military ranks German words and phrases