sergeant
See also: Sergeant
English
Etymology
From Middle English sergeant, sergeaunt, serjent, serjaunt, serjawnt, sergant, from Old French sergeant, sergent, serjant, sergient, sergant (“sergeant, servant”), from Medieval Latin servientem, accusative of serviens (“a servant, vassal, soldier, apparitor”), from Latin serviēns (“serving”), present participle of serviō (“serve, be a slave to”). More at servant.
The fish is so called because of its stripes, supposed to resemble a sergeant's insignia of rank.
For the "er" being pronounced /ɑɹ/, see also clerk, derby, varsity.
Pronunciation
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.
Related terms
Translations
non-commissioned officer rank
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