padre
n. countablen. a priest or religious leader who works in the military. You use this word to talk about a chaplain in the army, navy, or air force.
n. a chaplain in any of the armed forces. Often used as a title or form of address for a member of the clergy in a military context.
The soldiers went to see the padre before the mission.
After the battle, the padre visited the wounded soldiers in the field hospital to offer comfort and prayers.
While the role is primarily spiritual, a military padre often serves as a vital bridge between the command structure and the emotional well-being of the rank-and-file troops.
Borrowed from Italian padre, Spanish padre, or Portuguese padre (“priest”), which are from Latin pater (“father”). Doublet of ayr, faeder, father, pater, and père.
Commonly used as a title before a name or as a direct form of address.