"The commander of a fleet, an admiral; specifically the chief admiral of the Spartans", Early 19th cent.; earliest use found in William Mitford (1744–1827), historian of ancient Greece. From ancient Greek ναύαρχος commander of a fleet, admiral, specifically the chief admiral of the Spartans from ναῦς ship + -αρχος.[navarch etymology, navarch origin, 英语词源]