sergeant

Meaning

Noun

• 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.
• A lawyer of the highest rank, equivalent to the doctor of civil law.
• A fish, the cobia.
• Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the of the genus Athyma (genus); distinguished from the false sergeants.
• A bailiff.
• A servant in monastic offices.

Origin

• From Middle English sergeant, sergeaunt, serjent, serjaunt, serjawnt, sergant, from Old French sergeant, sergent, serjant, sergient, sergant, from Medieval Latin servientem, accusative of serviens, from Latin serviēns ("serving"), present participle of serviō. servant, and servient.
• The fish is so called because of its stripes, supposed to resemble a sergeant's insignia of rank.
• For the "er" being pronounced , see also clerk, derby, varsity.