The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word COMMODORE
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The cryptic/wordplay part
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What does COMMODORE mean?
COMMODORE noun- A naval officer holding a rank between captain and rear admiral.
- A (temporary) commander over a collection of ships who is not an admiral.
- The leading ship in a fleet of merchantmen.
- The president of a yacht club.
- A yacht-club president's vessel in a regatta.
- A commodore admiral.
- A rear admiral (lower half).
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Parasarpa.