| 释义 |
ˈtown-ˈmajor Obs. or Hist.
a. The major of a town-guard, as formerly in Edinburgh.
b. The chief executive officer in a garrison-town or fortress.
c. Applied vaguely to the chief magistrate or administrative officer of a foreign town.
d. An officer responsible for liaison between troops stationed in a town and the townspeople. (No longer current.)
a.1676W. Row Contn. Blair's Autobiog. (1848) 554 Several meetings in Edinburgh were dispersed by Robert Johnston town-major. 1693Apol. Clergy Scot. 29 Town Major of Edenburgh, living in the Parish of Leswade, Major Will. Murray.
b.1702Milit. Dict., Town-Major, the third Officer in order in a Garrison, and next to the Deputy Governor. He ought to understand the Fortification, and has a particular Charge of the Guards, Rounds, Patrouilles, and Sentinels. 1715Lond. Gaz. No. 5300/5 Robert Dalzell, Esq., to be Town Major thereof [of Portsmouth]. 1737J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. ii. (ed. 33) 115 (Gibraltar) John Preston, Esq., Town-Major, Mr. Anthony Robinson, Town-Adjutant. 1856J. W. Kaye Life Sir J. Malcolm I. iv. 62 The change was beneficial to Malcolm, who was nominated Town-Major of Fort St. George. 1876Voyle Milit. Dict. (ed. 3) 436/1 Town-Major, an officer who regulates the duties of a garrison, such as the detail and supervision of garrison guards, the disposal of prisoners in the garrison guard-room, the roster of officers for garrison duties [etc.].
c.1748Earthquake of Peru ii. 168 The Town-Major of Callao would not. 1784T. Hutchins Descr. Louisiana, etc. 17 The people..sending three deputies to General O'Riley, viz. Messieurs Grandmaison town-major, La Friniere attorney-general, and De Mazant. 1809A. Henry Trav. 12 After some further delay, in obtaining a passport from the town-major, I dispatched my canoes to Lachine, there to take in their lading. 1864Burton Scot Abr. II. ii. 159 The town-major, finding them without credentials, or passports, ordered them to be carried to prison.
d.1917A. G. Empey Over Top 312 Town major, an officer stationed in a French town or village who is supposed to look after billets, upkeep of roads, and act as interpreter. 1919A. P. Herbert Bomber Gipsy 19 Town-major jobs that break men's hearts, and billets at the Base.
Hence town-ˈmajorship.
1856J. W. Kaye Life Sir J. Malcolm I. iv. 62 New arrangements were made for the Town-Majorship of the Fort. |