2. The ship which carries the admiral; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet. Like some mighty admiral, dark and terrible, bearing down upon his antagonist with all his canvas straining to the wind, and all his thunders roaring from his broadsides. E. Everett.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A handsome butterfly (Pyrameis Atalanta) of Europe and America. The larva feeds on nettles. Admiral shell (Zoöl.), the popular name of an ornamental cone shell (Conus admiralis). Lord High Admiral, a great officer of state, who (when this rare dignity is conferred) is at the head of the naval administration of Great Britain.
ADMIRALSHIP
Ad"mi*ral*ship, n.
Defn: The office or position oaf an admiral; also, the naval skill of an admiral.
ADMIRALTY Ad"mi*ral*ty, n.; pl. Admiralties. Etym: [F. amirauté, for an older amiralté, office of admiral, fr. LL. admiralitas. See Admiral.]
1. The office or jurisdiction of an admiral. Prescott.
2. The department or officers having authority over naval affairs generally.
3. The court which has jurisdiction of maritime questions and offenses.
Note: In England, admiralty jurisdiction was formerly vested in the High Court of Admiralty, which was held before the Lord High Admiral, or his deputy, styled the Judge of the Admiralty; but admiralty jurisdiction is now vested in the probate, divorce, and admiralty division of the High Justice. In America, there are no admiralty courts distinct from others, but admiralty jurisdiction is vested in the district courts of the United States, subject to revision by the circuit courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. Admiralty jurisprudence has cognizance of maritime contracts and torts, collisions at sea, cases of prize in war, etc., and in America, admiralty jurisdiction is extended to such matters, arising out of the navigation of any of the public waters, as the Great Lakes and rivers.