A commodity of brown paper and old ginger.
Shak.
Com"mo*dore` (?), n. [Prob. a corruption of commander, or Sp. comendador a knight of a military order who holds a commandery; also a superior of a monastery, fr. LL. commendare to command. Cf. Commend, Command, Commander.] 1. (U. S. Navy) An officer who ranks next above a captain; sometimes, by courtesy, the senior captain of a squadron. The rank of commodore corresponds with that of brigadier general in the army.
2. (British Navy) A captain commanding a squadron, or a division of a fleet, or having the temporary rank of rear admiral.
3. A title given by courtesy to the senior captain of a line of merchant vessels, and also to the chief officer of a yachting or rowing club.
4. A familiar for the flagship, or for the principal vessel of a squadron or fleet.
Com"mon (?), a. [Compar. Commoner (?); superl. Commonest.] [OE. commun, comon, OF. comun, F. commun, fr. L. communis; com- + munis ready to be of service; cf. Skr. mi to make fast, set up, build, Goth. gamains common, G. gemein, and E. mean low, common. Cf. Immunity, Commune, n. & v.] 1. Belonging or relating equally, or similarly, to more than one; as, you and I have a common interest in the property.
Though life and sense be common to men and brutes.
Sir M. Hale.
2. Belonging to or shared by, affecting or serving, all the members of a class, considered together; general; public; as, properties common to all plants; the common schools; the Book of Common Prayer.
Such actions as the common good requireth.
Hooker.
The common enemy of man.
Shak.