Talk:Warspite/@comment-26843989-20160813132006/@comment-217.42.197.217-20160813135011

The first HMS Warspite served as a 29-gun galleon in 1596, and in the 1500s, the rank of "admiral" was actually pronounced how Warspite's VA pronounces it. Interesting little tid bit for you.

http://puu.sh/qzw56/0944686a94.jpg - A picture of a dictionary from the late 1700s - the pronunciation hadn't changed since 1590 - it's likely that the pronunciation changed to the modern "ad-mral" during the 20th century. Similarly, lieutenant as explained by McDerp was initially pronounced by British English speakers as "left-tenant", but that pronunciation I can confirm has not changed in the British armed forces - a Flight Lieutenant for example in the RAF is still pronounced "flight left-tenant".