The sergeant of the town of Rome them sought.
--Chaucer.
The magistrates sent the serjeant, saying, Let those
men go. --Acts xvi.
35.
This fell sergeant, Death, Is strict in his arrest.
--Shak.
2. (Mil.) In a company, battery, or troop, a noncommissioned
officer next in rank above a corporal, whose duty is to
instruct recruits in discipline, to form the ranks, etc.
Note: In the United States service, besides the sergeants
belonging to the companies there are, in each regiment,
a sergeant major, who is the chief noncommissioned
officer, and has important duties as the assistant to
the adjutant; a quartermaster sergeant, who assists the
quartermaster; a color sergeant, who carries the
colors; and a commissary sergeant, who assists in the
care and distribution of the stores. Ordnance sergeants
have charge of the ammunition at military posts.
3. (Law) A lawyer of the highest rank, answering to the
doctor of the civil law; -- called also {serjeant at law}.
[Eng.] --Blackstone.
4. A title sometimes given to the servants of the sovereign;
as, sergeant surgeon, that is, a servant, or attendant,
surgeon. [Eng.]
{Drill sergeant}. (Mil.) See under {Drill}.
{Sergeant-at-arms}, an officer of a legislative body, or of a
deliberative or judicial assembly, who executes commands
in preserving order and arresting offenders. See
{Sergeant}, 1.
{Sergeant major}.
(a) (Mil.) See the Note under def. 2, above.
(b) (Zo["o]l.) The cow pilot.