See Also: sergeant-major(dictionary)
sergeant major(dictionary)
sergeant(dictionary)
sergeant(dictionary)
sergeant(medicine)
flight sergeant(dictionary)
staff sergeant(dictionary)
Bilko, Sergeant(dictionary)
SERGEANT or SERJEANT, Eng(law)
SERGEANT AT ARMS(law)

sergeant-major (iou)



sergeant-major noun & verb. Also (now rare) serjeant-major. L16.
[from SERGEANT + MAJOR adjective.]
A. noun.
Military.
a. A field officer, one in each regiment, who ranked below a lieutenant colonel, corresponding partly to major, partly to adjutant, in modern usage. L16-E18.
b. A general officer, corresponding to the modern major-general. Also sergeant-major major, sergeant-major general. L16-M17.
Military. A non-commissioned officer of the highest rank. Also (in full regimental sergeant-major), a warrant officer assisting the adjutant of a regiment or battalion; (in full company sergeant-major), the senior warrant officer of a company. E19.
A distinctively striped damselfish, Abudefduf saxatilis, of warm seas worldwide. L19.
More fully sergeant-major's tea, sergeant-major's coffee. Strong sweet tea or (US) coffee with milk; tea with rum. Also sergeant-major's. Military slang. E20.
b. verb trans. & intrans. Speak (to) or shout (at) in a brusque, stentorian, or commanding manner. M20.
sergeant-majorish,
sergeant-majorly adjectives characteristic of or resembling a sergeant-major E20.
sergeant-majorship noun the rank or office of sergeant-major L19.