General

Etymology
Partly via, partly via , from.

Noun

 * 1)  general
 * 2)  general
 * 3)  general

Usage notes

 * The two military senses exist alongside each other. In the German Bundeswehr, all army and air-force officers above the rank of colonel are referred to as Generale and each of them is addressed as Herr General. At the same time, General is a specific rank, namely the highest existing rank, typically held by the inspector general and at most one or two other generals.
 * The plural is Generale in the Bundeswehr’s official terminology, but more commonly Generäle otherwise. Singular forms with -e- (des Generales, dem Generale) are exceedingly rare.