noun
also ser·jeant ˈsärjənt, ˈsȧj-
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French sergent, serjant, from Latin servient-, serviens, present participle of servire to serve — more at serve
1.
a. obsolete : servant
b. obsolete : an attendant upon a knight in the field
c. obsolete : a common soldier
d. : sergeant at arms 1
e. — used with various designations of office (as to indicate appointment by and attendance upon a royal person)
sergeant surgeon to the king
sergeant painter to the court
2. usually serjeant : barrister ; especially : serjeant-at-law
3.
a. obsolete : an officer who enforces the judgments of a court or the commands of one in authority
b. : sergeant at arms 2
c. : any of various municipal officers of lower rank (as in the City of London) — see : sergeant-at-mace
d. : an officer in a police force ranking in the United States just below captain or sometimes lieutenant and in England just below inspector
4. : a noncommissioned officer in the army and marine corps rating just below a staff sergeant and above a corporal — see chevron illustration
5. : sergeant fish
6.
a. : a local Salvation Army officer appointed for specific duty
b. : a Salvation Army cadet appointed to assist in the training of officer candidates
7. : a fire-department officer ranking just below a lieutenant