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A skipper is a person who has command of a boat or ship, 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 fishing boats.
It is also more frequently used than captain with privately-owned noncommercial vessels, such as small yachts and other recreational boats. Mostly in cases where the person in command of the boat is likely not a licensed or professional captain, suggesting the term is less formal.
In Navy/Marine Corps and merchant naval slang, it is a term used in reference to the commanding officer of any Ship, base or command regardless of rank. It is generally only applied to someone who has earned the speaker's respect.
Skipper RNR was an actual rank used in the British Royal Naval Reserve for skippers of fishing boats who were members of the service. It was equivalent to Warrant Officer. Skippers could also be promoted to Chief Skipper RNR (equivalent to Commissioned Warrant Officer) and Skipper Lieutenant RNR.
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