Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sergeant
Ser′geant
,Noun.
[Written also
serjeant
. Both spellings are authorized. In England serjeant
is usually preferred, except for military officers. In the United States sergeant
is common for civil officers also.] 1.
Formerly, in England, an officer nearly answering to the more modern bailiff of the hundred; also, an officer whose duty was to attend on the king, and on the lord high steward in court, to arrest traitors and other offenders. He is now called sergeant-at-arms, and two of these officers, by allowance of the sovereign, attend on the houses of Parliament (one for each house) to execute their commands, and another attends the Court Chancery.
The
sergeant
of the town of Rome them sought. Chaucer.
The magistrates sent the
serjeant
, saying, Let those men go. Acts xvi. 35.
This fell
Is strict in his arrest.
sergeant
, Death,Is strict in his arrest.
Shakespeare
2.
(Mil.)
In a company, battery, or troop, a noncommissioned officer next in rank above a corporal, whose duty is to instruct recruits in discipline, to form the ranks, etc.
☞ In the United States service, besides the sergeants belonging to the companies there are, in each regiment, a sergeant major, who is the chief noncommissioned officer, and has important duties as the assistant to the adjutant; a quartermaster sergeant, who assists the quartermaster; a color sergeant, who carries the colors; and a commissary sergeant, who assists in the care and distribution of the stores. Ordnance sergeants have charge of the ammunition at military posts.
3.
(Law)
A lawyer of the highest rank, answering to the doctor of the civil law; – called also
serjeant at law
. [Eng.]
Blackstone.
4.
A title sometimes given to the servants of the sovereign;
as,
. sergeant
surgeon, that is, a servant, or attendant, surgeon[Eng.]
5.
(Zool.)
The cobia.
Drill sergeant
. (Mil.)
See under
– Drill
. Sergeant-at-arms
, an officer of a legislative body, or of a deliberative or judicial assembly, who executes commands in preserving order and arresting offenders. See
– Sergeant
, 1. Sergeant major
. (a)
(Mil.)
See the Note under def. 2, above.
(b)
(Zool.)
The cow pilot.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sergeant
SERGEANT
,Noun.
1. Formerly, an officer in England, nearly answering to to the more modern bailif of the hundred; also, an officer whose duty was to attend on the king, and on the lord high steward in court, to arrest traitors and other effenders. This officer is now called serjeant at arms, or mace. There are at present other officers of an inferior kind, to attend mayors and magistrates to execute their orders.
2. In military affairs, a non-commissioned officer in a company of infantry or troop of dragoons, armed with halbert, whose duty is to see discipline is observed, to order and form the ranks, &c.
3. In England, a lawyer of the highest rank, answering to the doctor of the civil law.
4. A title sometimes given to the king's servants; as sergeant surgeon, servant surgeon.
Definition 2024
Sergeant
sergeant
sergeant
See also: Sergeant
English
Alternative forms
Noun
sergeant (plural sergeants)
- UK army rank with NATO code OR-6, senior to corporal and junior to warrant officer ranks.
- The highest rank of noncommissioned officer in some non-naval military forces and police.
- (law, historical) A lawyer of the highest rank, equivalent to the doctor of civil law.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Blackstone to this entry?)
- (Britain, historical) A title sometimes given to the servants of the sovereign.
- sergeant surgeon, i.e. a servant, or attendant, surgeon
- A fish, the cobia.
Translations
non-commissioned officer rank
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