sergeant-major

sergeant-major
   In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, this was a rank in the British army applied to officers of various levels, but usually superior to captain.
   Since the beginning of the nineteenth century it has described a non-commissioned officer of the highest grade, or more strictly speaking, a warrant officer who is intermediate in rank between commissioned and noncommissioned officers.
   In the USA a sergeant-major can also be an air force or marine corps rank, immediately above sergeant. Leslie Thomas, in The Magic Army, quotes a popular British army song which begins: ‘Kiss me good-night, sergeantmajor,/Tuck me in my little wooden bed…’

A dictionary of epithets and terms of address . . 2015.

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  • Sergeant Major — ist ein Senior Non commissioned Officer (SNCO, etwa „Stabsunteroffizier“, s. Feldwebeldienstgrade) oder Warrant Officer, abhängig von den betrachteten Streitkräften. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Geschichte 1.1 Entstehung 1.2 Entwicklung in den USA …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sergeant major — Sergeant Ser geant, n. [F. sergent, fr. L. serviens, entis, p. pr. of servire to serve. See {Serve}, and cf. {Servant}.] [Written also {serjeant}. Both spellings are authorized. In England {serjeant} is usually preferred, except for military… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sergeant-major — sergeant māˈjor noun 1. Formerly, an officer of rank varying from major to major general 2. Now, the highest non commissioned officer (company sergeant major the senior warrant officer in a company; regimental sergeant major the senior warrant… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sergeant major — sergeant majors also sergeant major N COUNT; N TITLE; N VOC A sergeant major is a non commissioned army or marine officer of the highest rank …   English dictionary

  • sergeant major — n. pl. sergeants major 1. the chief administrative noncommissioned officer in a military headquarters: an occupational title and not a rank ☆ 2. U.S. Army U.S. Marine Corps the highest ranking noncommissioned officer 3. a small damselfish… …   English World dictionary

  • sergeant major — n a military rank …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • sergeant major — noun count a person of middle rank in the army, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. MARINES …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • sergeant major — ► NOUN ▪ a warrant officer in the British army whose job is to assist the adjutant of a regiment or battalion or a subunit commander …   English terms dictionary

  • Sergeant major — For other uses, see Sergeant major (disambiguation). Common anglophone military ranks Navies Armies Air forces Officers Admiral of the fleet Marshal / …   Wikipedia

  • Sergeant Major — A Sergeant Major is a rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non commissioned officers or warrant officers. In the United States, there are… …   Wikipedia

  • sergeant major — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms sergeant major : singular sergeant major plural sergeant majors or sergeants major a person of middle rank in the army, the US Air Force, and the US Marines …   English dictionary

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