[ 'brɛvɪt ]
■ noun a former type of military commission conferred especially for outstanding service, by which an officer was promoted to a higher rank without the corresponding pay.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing or ~ting , ~ed or ~ted ) confer a ~ rank on.
Origin
ME (denoting an official letter): from OFr. brievet 'little letter', dimin. of bref .