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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 Rom…

Same as Sergeancy.

See Sergeanty. [R.] [Written also serjeantry.]

The office of sergeant.

ind of service not due to any lord, but to the king only. [Written also serjeanty.] Grand sergeanty, a particular kind of tenure by which the tenant was bound to do some special honorary service to the king in person, as to carry his banner, his sword, or the like. Tomlins. Cowell. Blackstone. -- Petit sergeanty. See…

See under Sergeant.

arge size (Elacate canada); the crabeater; -- called also bonito, cubbyyew, coalfish, and sergeant fish.

A noncommissioned officer, next below a sergeant. In the United States army he is the lowest noncomissioned officer in a company of infantry. He places and relieves sentinels. Corporal's guard, a detachment such as would be in charge of a corporal for guard duty, etc.; hence, derisively, a very small number of persons.…

Jig. -- Drill pin, the pin in a lock which enters the hollow stem of the key. -- Drill sergeant (Mil.), a noncommissioned officer whose office it is to instruct soldiers as to their duties, and to train them to military exercises and evolutions. -- Vertical drill, a drill press.

-- First officer (Naut.), in the merchant service, same as First mate (above). -- First sergeant (Mil.), the ranking non-commissioned officer in a company; the orderly sergeant. Farrow. -- First watch (Naut.), the watch from eight to twelve at midnight; also, the men on duty during that time. -- First water, the hi…

e British Indian armies, a noncommissioned officer of native soldiers, corresponding to a sergeant. Havildar major, a native sergeant major in the East Indian army.

tters. It is a general term, comprehending attorneys, counselors, solicitors, barristers, sergeants, and advocates.

e commanding officer, usually in the barracks, whence orders emanate. Farrow. -- Orderly sergeant, the first sergeant of a company.

sually a general officer, accompanying each complete army in the field. -- Quartermaster sergeant. See Sergeant.

body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff. (b) See under 1st File. -- The ranks, the order or grade of common soldiers; as, to reduce a noncommissioned officer to the ranks. -- To fill the ranks, to supply the whole nu…

tity, quality, value, etc.; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; to impair; as, to reduce a sergeant to the ranks; to reduce a drawing; to reduce expenses; to reduce the intensity of heat. "An ancient but reduced family." Sir W. Scott. Nothing so excellent but a man may fasten upon something belonging to it, to reduce it…

The office of a sergeant; sergeantship. [Written also serjeancy.]

See Sergeant, Sergeantcy, etc. Serjeant-at-arms. See Sergeant- at-arms, under Sergeant.

an officer of an army, company, or troop, who bears a standard; -- commonly called color sergeantor color bearer; hence, the leader of any organization; as, the standard bearer of a political party.

r of some specified person. Bouvier. -- Warrant officer, a noncommissioned officer, as a sergeant, corporal, bandmaster, etc., in the army, or a quartermaster, gunner, boatswain, etc., in the navy. -- Warrant to sue and defend. (a) (O. Eng. Law) A special warrant from the crown, authorizing a party to appoint an atto…