When an officer is placed in a vacancy by "acting order," he only holds temporary rank until "confirmed" therein by the Admiralty. An acting order given by competent authority is not disturbed by any casual superior.
·superl Strong to the taste. II. Rank ·adv Rankly; stoutly; violently. III. Rank ·vt To place abre...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
Stinking, rammish, ill-flavoured; also strong, great. A rank knave; a rank coward: perhaps the latte...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
Degree of dignity; officers of the navy rank with those of the army according to the following table...
The Sailor's Word-Book
A highwayman. ...
See rank. ...
That given by commission, and which does not cease with any particular service. ...
The last rank of a body of men drawn up in simple line. ...
That owing to an acting commission, or to local circumstances, ceasing with a particular service. ...
This word includes corporals as well as privates, all below sergeants. (See file.) ...