sergeantserjeantn.
/ˈsɑːdʒənt/ a. A serving-man, attendant, servant. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > [noun] > man or boy
knightc950
knapec1000
shalkOE
knaveOE
sergeantc1200
swainc1275
groom1297
garcion13..
ladc1300
harlota1350
serving-mana1400
manservant1409
varlet1483
handman1496
custrelinga1556
Sim Shakebuckler?1560
lackey-boy1575
vadelect1586
muchacho1591
round robin1591
varlettoa1616
vadelet1661
gossoon1684
skip1699
mozo1811
Jack1836
tea-boy1847
John1848
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 177 Þe senden here sergantes to bringen iuele tiðinges.
c1250 Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 29 Hac hye spac to þo serganz þet seruede of þo wyne.
c1290 Beket 687 in S. Eng. Leg. 126 On of is seriaunz sat a niȝt þe ȝwile þat men woke.
a1300 Floriz & Bl. 665 Þer ben seriauns in þe stage, Þat serue þe maidenes of parage.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 2516 He [sc. Abram] did to-geder samen his men, Thre hundret aght sariants and ten [L. vernaculos, Gen. xiv. 14].
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2066 Cum now forth with me..And þine seriaunz al þre.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 2361 Ȝyf þou be a seriaunt And take more þan þy cunnaunt..Y rede þat þou þer-of lete.
c1330 Arth. & Merl. 2522 (Kölbing) On þe gate loude þai bete, Seriaunce com & hem in lete.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 33 And þis is þe sixte vice of þe kueade sergonte. Þet he fayleþ er þan he come..to his terme.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. iii. 216 Seruantz [v.r. Sergauntz] for her seruise..Taken Mede of here maistre.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3221 A sargiant call þan comand he þat mast wist of his priuete.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xii. l. 323 An Old Serjaunt he gan to Calle, And there him Comaunded...The Cristene to kepen with ful gret honour.
c1450 Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.) 133 Sho qwitte hym of awayt of hire ffaders sergeantz and lete him out at a wyndowe.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > piety > [noun] > person
friend of GodOE
sergeantc1290
servantc1300
Christian?1535
devoto1605
devotive1608
devout1616
devote1630
devoter1634
devotist1641
devotary1646
devotor1648
volunteer1649
devotionist1651
devotionary1660
devoteea1684
devotionalist1736
devotionair1742
devotioner1883
Stiggins1916
the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [noun] > servant of
wolfa900
sergeanta1513
antichristian1531
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [noun] > devilish wickedness > devilish or hellish person > agent of Satan
the devil's limb971
sergeanta1513
imp1526
c1290 Matheu 64 in S. Eng. Leg. 79 ‘Nai certes’, quath þis holie man; ‘god nam ich nouȝt Ake godes seriaunt’.
14.. Alexius (Laud 622) in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen 59 104 Alexis hys sone..sayd, Sergeaunte of god haue pyte of me that am a poure pylgryme.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lxxxvii. 118 Whiche [sc. Raab] god wold haue saued, by cause she had saued his mynystres and sergeans.
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xi. sig. d.i The minister of myschef, & sergeaunt of sathanas.
1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xix. 78 That Apostat, that Feyndis awin Seriand.
a. A common soldier. Obsolete. [Compare Cotgrave ‘Sergent..in old French, a footman, or souldier that serues on foot.’]
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > common soldier > [noun]
soldiera1300
sergeantc1300
private soldier1566
common soldier1569
private man1651
man1690
(private) centinel1710
single sentinel1721
private1775
single soldier1816
troop1832
ranksman1845
dog soldier1852
ranker1890
other rank1904
mucko1917
squaddie1933
craftsman1942
peon1957
grunt1969
troopie1972
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2361 With hem fiue thusand gode Sergaunz, þat weren to fyht wode.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 895 Seuen þousand now we are Of knyghtes to bataille ȝare, Wyþoute seriauntz & oþer pytaille.
a1352 L. Minot Poems (1914) v. 22 He hasted him to þe Swin with sergantes snell.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 44 Sevin thousand knychtis four score of thousandis of sergendis.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxii. 478 He wythdrewe his arme, & gaff to one of the sergauntes suche a stroke wyth it in to ye forhede that [etc.].
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin vii. 113 Their peple..were well viijml knyghtes, with-outen seriantis and arblastis.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > man > [noun]
churla800
werec900
rinkeOE
wapmanc950
heOE
wyeOE
gomeOE
ledeOE
seggeOE
shalkOE
manOE
carmanlOE
mother bairnc1225
hemea1250
mother sona1250
hind1297
buck1303
mister mana1325
piecec1325
groomc1330
man of mouldc1330
hathela1350
sire1362
malea1382
fellowa1393
guestc1394
sergeant?a1400
tailarda1400
tulka1400
harlotc1405
mother's sona1470
frekea1475
her1488
masculinea1500
gentlemana1513
horse?a1513
mutton?a1513
merchant1549
child1551
dick1553
sorrya1555
knavea1556
dandiprat1556
cove1567
rat1571
manling1573
bird1575
stone-horse1580
loona1586
shaver1592
slave1592
copemate1593
tit1594
dog1597
hima1599
prick1598
dingle-dangle1605
jade1608
dildoa1616
Roger1631
Johnny1648
boy1651
cod1653
cully1676
son of a bitch1697
cull1698
feller1699
chap1704
buff1708
son of a gun1708
buffer1749
codger1750
Mr1753
he-man1758
fella1778
gilla1790
gloak1795
joker1811
gory1819
covey1821
chappie1822
Charley1825
hombre1832
brother-man1839
rooster1840
blokie1841
hoss1843
Joe1846
guy1847
plug1848
chal1851
rye1851
omee1859
bloke1861
guffin1862
gadgie1865
mug1865
kerel1873
stiff1882
snoozer1884
geezer1885
josser1886
dude1895
gazabo1896
jasper1896
prairie dog1897
sport1897
crow-eater1899
papa1903
gink1906
stud1909
scout1912
head1913
beezer1914
jeff1917
pisser1918
bimbo1919
bozo1920
gee1921
mush1936
rye mush1936
basher1942
okie1943
mugger1945
cat1946
ou1949
tess1952
oke1970
bra1974
muzhik1993
?a1400 Morte Arth. 1173 Be sekere of this sergeaunt [sc. the giant], he has me sore greuede!
1568 Interlud Droichis Part Play 5 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 316 Se ȝe not quha Is cum now..A sargeand out of sowdoun land A gyane strang for to stand.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by type of service > [noun] > one liable for service
sergeantc1290
hobblerc1308
sergeant-at-arms1377
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > knight > squire > [noun] > sergeant
sergeantc1290
c1290 Beket 2427 in S. Eng. Leg. 176 For to honouri þis holi man þer cam folk i-novȝ;..Of Eorles and of barones and manie kniȝtes heom to; Of seriaunz and of squiers.
c1314 Guy Warw. 7000 On ich side he seye come kniȝtes, Burieys, and seriaunce redi to fiȝtes.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7210 Of hym [sc. the king] hauy no lond ne rent So þat y may not holde to me Fourty squiers [Petyt MS. sergeanz; Wace sergans] on al my fe.
a1400 Seuyn Sag. 253 Som squier or som seriant nice, Had i-told th'emperice Al of th'emperoures sone.
a1400 K. Alis. 3464 Mony baron, mony sergant, Mony strong knyght and géant.
a1400 Coer de L. 1259 To Londoun, to hys somouns, Come erl, bysschop, and barouns,..and manye bachelers, Serjaunts, and every freeholdande.
c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 1872 Knightes, serjantes, and swiers.
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxix. 431 Off sergeandis þar and kynchtis keyn He gat a gret company.
a. An officer whose duty is to enforce the judgements of a tribunal or the commands of a person in authority; one who is charged with the arrest of offenders or the summoning of persons to appear before the court. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > an officer of the court > [noun] > official who summons persons to court
summonera1325
sergeanta1330
summonderc1346
apparitor1593
summoning officer1720
warrant officer1895
society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > an officer of the court > [noun] > official who executes orders of court
sergeanta1330
ringildie1347
sergeant of (the) peace1357
ministerc1390
pursuivant1503
ringild1507
messenger1732
a1330 Roland & V. 413 Seriaunce þe bodi souȝt.
c1386 G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale 519 A maner sergeant [Petrarch satelles] was this prince man.
c1386 G. Chaucer Sec. Nun's T. 361 The sergeantz of the toun of Rome hem soghte And hem biforn Almache the Prefect broghte.
1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 1 Sam. xix. 14 Saul sente sergeauntis [L. apparitores], that schulden rauysche Dauid.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17293 Þai send sergantz for to nym both sir nichodem & him.
14.. in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 684/5 Hic lictor, a sargent.
1433 Rolls of Parl. IV. 477/1 That the Baylyffs..make 11 Sergeauntes of the seid Town.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 67/1 Ceriawnt, indagator.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 453/2 Seriawnt, undyr a domys mann, for to a-rest menn, or a catche-pol.
c1450 Brut ii. 570 He..after sent forth sergeauntes, and arestit dyuers Constables and vinteners.
1455–6 Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 290 He schold assingne one of hys serjauntys to arest the Mayre.
1479–81 in H. Littlehales Medieval Rec. London City Church (1905) 111 Item, payd to a sergeaunte for the arrest of our tenaunte þat dyd vs wronge, viij d.
1490 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) I. 174 To the sergeandis of the towne ix s.
1496 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) I. 302 To the seriand of Leith, to rest the avnaris of the Cukow to the court ij s.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. xi. 66 And quhen þe seriandis [L. præcones] had with þare noyiss and hohas warnit in speciall þe albanis to here þe kingis concioun [etc.].
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1903) II. iii. xv. 5 Assembil þarefore now all þe seriandis and burreois of thy collegis [L. omnes collegarum lictores], armit, as þare custome is, with wandis and axis.
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. 2 Cor. xi. f. lxv Thryse was I beaten with sargeauntes roddes.
1557 Bible (Whittingham) Matt. v. 25 Agre with thin aduersarie quickely..least..thy iudge deliuer thee to the seargeant.
1606 Bp. J. Hall Heauen vpon Earth vi. 51 When..thy Conscience like a sterne Sergeant shall catch thee by the throat, and arrest thee vpon Gods debt.
1611 Bible (King James) Acts xvi. 35.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. ii. 55 Oh yes, if any houre meete a Serieant, a turnes backe for verie feare.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 244 Foure Serjeants attired in red gownes attend the Senate and summon men to appeare.
1621 J. Taylor Praise of Beggery sig. B2 He's free from shoulder-clapping Sergeants clawes.
1633 S. Marmion Fine Compan. ii. vi. D 4 b He may..consort with wits and sword-men, bee afraid of Sergeants, and spend more for his Protection then would pay the debt.
1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Een Schade-beletter, a Sargeant to save one from Harme.
1673 Aberdeen Reg. (1872) IV. 286 The toun serjands of this brughe.
1680 C. Ness Compl. Church-hist. 378 They were put into the serjeants ward.
b. transferred and figurative.
ΚΠ
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1859) i. xxii. 24 Thylke dethes sergeaunt, maladye, She hath arest, and haldyth the now in hande.
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 163 He shall finde it one of their speciall Priuiledges, to be exempted from the arrest of the sixfooted Sergeant, a continuall haunter of other hairy beastes, and onely fauorable to the good Asse, and the gentle Sheepe.
1600 C. Tourneur Transformed Metamorph. sig. Cv One day? nay sure a twelue-months time t'will be, Ere seriant death will call me at my doore.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. ii. 288 Had I but time, as this fell sergeant Death Is strickt in his arrest, ô I could tell you. View more context for this quotation
1622 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. VI. N.T. iii. 291 Our decrepit age both expects death, and solicites it; but vigorous youth, lookes strangely vpon that grim sergeant of God.
1646 W. Jenkyn Reformation's Remora 12 You shall not be able to intoxicate this Sergeant of God [conscience].
1681 J. Flavell Method of Grace xxxv. 594 If ever God send forth those two grim Sergeants, his Law and thine own conscience, to arrest thee for thy sins.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > an officer of the court > [noun] > official who executes orders of court
sergeanta1330
ringildie1347
sergeant of (the) peace1357
ministerc1390
pursuivant1503
ringild1507
messenger1732
1357 in Blount Law Dict. (1691) (at cited word) Et etiam habere ibidem sex Servientes qui vocantur Serjeants of peace, qui servient Cur. Manerii prædicti, & facient Attach[iamenta][etc.].
1464 Rolls of Parl. V. 541/2 Th'Office of Sergeant to the pees of alle oure Countees, in alle oure Lordship.
1485 Rolls of Parl. VI. 380/2 The Offices of Sergeaunt of Peas..in the Lordship of Denbygh.
d. King's sergeant (Guernsey): see quot. ?c1682.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > an officer of the court > [noun] > crier or proclaimer
crier1395
proclamator1650
King's sergeant?c1682
?c1682 J. Warburton Treat. Hist. Guernsey (1822) 58 The King's Sergeant... To his office it belongs to proclaim and publish all orders of the governor or of the Court.
5. sergeant-at-arms n. (Also serjeant-at-arms, †sergeant of arms.) †(a) In early use gen.: an armed officer in the service of a lord (cf. sense 1); spec. one of a body of men of knightly rank, originally 24 in number, who were required to be in immediate attendance on the king's person, to arrest traitors and other offenders; (b) an officer of each of the two Houses of Parliament, who is charged with the duty of enforcing the commands of the House, the arrest of offenders, etc.; (hence) an officer having corresponding duties under certain other legislative assemblies, as the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > armed retainer > [noun]
housecarlOE
lede kempc1275
lede knightc1275
lede thegnc1275
sergeant-at-arms1377
servanta1400
myrmidon1620
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by type of service > [noun] > one liable for service
sergeantc1290
hobblerc1308
sergeant-at-arms1377
society > authority > office > holder of office > official of royal or great household > [noun] > sergeant-at-arms
sergeant-at-arms1377
society > law > law enforcement > law-enforcement or peace-officer > [noun] > one whose duty is arresting offenders > in attendance on king
sergeant-at-arms1377
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > English or British parliament > [noun] > officials
sergeant-at-arms1377
receivera1650
reading clerk1670
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xix. 335 Now is Pieres to þe plow & pruyde it aspyde, And gadered hym a grete oest..And sente forth surquydous his seriaunt of armes.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 632 He sendez furthe sodaynly sergeantes of armes.
1447 J. Douebiggyng in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 269 There bode not with hym [a bishop] ouer xij persones atte the most, with his seriaunt of armes, wheche seriaunt was fayn to ley doun his mase.
1449 Rolls of Parl. V. 159/1 One of the Sargeauntes of Armes of our Soverayne Lord the Kyng.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur x. lxxxviii. 569 Thre sergeauntes of armes.
1473 Rolls of Parl. VI. 84/1 His Office of oone of oure Sergeauntes at Armes.
a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 187 A yeman of þe crowne, Sargeaunt of armes with mace.
1491 Act 7 Hen. VII c. 2. §8 Serjauntes of Armes that be purposely ordeyned for the personall attendaunce of the..King.
a1525 ( Coventry Leet Bk. (1908) II. 496 Ric. Shawe was arrested be þe seriaunt of armes þat brought þe writyng & caried vp to Wodstok vnto þe kyng.
1556 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 45 A sergant at harmes of the parlament howse.
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Apparitor regis, a serieaunt at armes.
1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia i. i. 7 A Serjeant at Armes, who shall beare the Mace of the Queenes Majesties Armes before him.
1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) i. ii. xiii. 96 Knocking at the Door of the House of Commons, which thereupon is by the Serjeant at Arms attending the House opened.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. xix. 259 The lord high steward directs a precept to a serjeant at arms, to summon the lords to attend and try the indicted peer.
1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. II. xiii. 367 Four counsel..were taken into custody of the Serjeant-at-arms by the speaker's warrant.
1886 C. E. Pascoe London of To-day (ed. 3) viii. 89 Seats for this space are in the gift of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
6. As a title borne by a lawyer. (Now always written serjeant.)transf. (jocular)1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 250 By black-caps, underlaid with white, Give certain guess at inward Light; Which Serjeants at the Gospel wear, To make the spiritual Calling clear.
a. A member of a superior order of barristers (abolished in 1880), from which, until 1873, the Common Law judges were always chosen (hence a serjeant was always called by a judge ‘my brother So-and-so’). More explicitly, serjeant at (†the) law, †serjeant of (the) law. Sometimes called serjeant of the coif: see coif n. 3b.The title represents the law Latin serviens ad legem, which may be rendered ‘one who serves (the king) in matters of law’.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal profession > lawyer > [noun] > counsellor, barrister, or advocate > serjeant
sergeant1297
countourc1325
the King's (or Queen's) Serjeant1423
servant1511
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 8833 Mid is wisdom þat was so muche he hom out drou & false serians of assise & dude hom ssame ynon.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 6084 Þai sal þan na help gett Of sergeaunt, ne auturne, ne avoket.
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. iii. 276 Schal no seriaunt for þat seruise were a selk houue.
1404 Rolls of Parl. III. 549/1 The Kynges entent is, to assigne..alle his Justices, and his Sergeantz.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 311 A Sergeaunt of lawe waar and wys.
c1435 in Kingsford Chron. London (1905) 57 Markham the Justice and Gascoigne Seriaunt of lawe.
1486 Bk. St. Albans f vj b A sotelty of sergeauntis.
1501 in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 152 (note) John Yaxley, Sergent at the Law.
1503 in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York (1830) 101 Item to John Mordant Sargeant at Lawe xl s.
1534 J. Heywood Play of Loue sig. Ciii Nowe am I a iudge and neuer was seriaunt.
1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus ii. iii. sig. Ljv To Poules crosse, or to the barre, where sergeantes plede in westmister hall.
1552 King Edward VI Jrnl. Lit. Rem. (Roxb.) 415 Also ther ware appointed eight sergeants of the law against Michelmas next comming.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxvi. 173 A linnen Coife..an ornament which only Sergeants at law doe weare.
1602 J. Chamberlain Let. 8 May (1939) I. 144 One Pelham a lawier was made sergeant to be sent cheife baron in to Ireland.
1656 T. Blount Glossographia Sergeant at Law (or of the Coyf) is the highest degree, taken in that profession, as a Doctor of the Civil Law.
1697 J. Dryden Ded. Æneis in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. a3 A Judge upon the Bench..does not willingly commend his Brother Serjeant at the Bar, especially when he controuls his Law.
1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) i. ii. xv. 122 None may be Judge in this Court, unless he be a Sergeant of the Degree of the Coif.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 89. ¶1 At present he is a Serjeant at Law.
1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses viii. 35 Serjeant such a one has a Silver Tongue at the Bar.
1764 Oxf. Sausage 172 Marking grave Serjeants cite each wise Report.
1819 W. P. Taunton Rep. Cases Comm. Pleas VII. 183 Lens and Vaughan, Serjts. now shewed cause against this rule.
a1832 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) XX. 762/2 Three Inns have belonged from very early times to the Judges and Sergeants at Law.
1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire II. iv. iv. 272 Serjeants-at-law were bound by a solemn oath to do their duty to their clients.
1841 Penny Cycl. XXI. 272/1 A paper endorsed with..the words ‘Mr. Serjeant A (or ‘Mr. B’), retainer for the plaintiff’ (or for the defendant).
1873 Act 36 & 37 Victoria c. 66 §8 Provided, that no person appointed a Judge of either of the said Courts shall henceforth be required to take, or have taken, the degree of Serjeant-at-Law.
b. the King's (or Queen's) Serjeant: a title given to a limited number of the serjeants-at-law, appointed by patent.The king's serjeants were supposed to be charged with the duty of pleading in the courts on behalf of the crown; but from an early period it had ceased to be more than an honorary distinction. The senior in rank of the king's serjeants was designated ‘the King's Serjeant’, and the second ‘The King's Ancient Serjeant’.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal profession > lawyer > [noun] > counsellor, barrister, or advocate > serjeant
sergeant1297
countourc1325
the King's (or Queen's) Serjeant1423
servant1511
1423 Rolls of Parl. IV. 201/2 The King' Sergeant to be sworne..to yeve the poor Man..Counsaill.
1454 Rolls of Parl. V. 240/1 Oon of the Kynges Sergeauntz atte lawe.
1482 Rolls of Parl. VI. 207/1 Richard Pygot, and Roger Townessend, the Kyng's Sergeants of the Lawe.
1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII c. 11 Lews Pollard the Kynges serjeaunt at the Lawe.
1600 E. Coke Les Reports iii. To Rdr. D iv b Out of these the King electeth one, two, or three as please him to be his Serieants, which are called the Kings Serieants.
1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) ii. iii. xxx. 576 The Queens Serjeants at Law.
a1825 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) XVII. 308/2 The King's Serjeant, so constituted by special patent; the King's Ancient Serjeant.
1882 W. Ballantine Some Exper. Barrister's Life I. 209 A post filled at that time by Mr. Serjeant Manning, Queen's ancient serjeant.
1886 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 682/2 Until 1814 the two senior King's serjeants had precedence of even the attorney-general and solicitor-general.
c. prime serjeant: the title given until 1805 to the first in rank of the three (earlier two) serjeants-at-law in Ireland. (Afterwards called first serjeant.)
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal profession > lawyer > [noun] > counsellor, barrister, or advocate > serjeant > specific
prime serjeant1666
1666 in Cal. State Papers Ireland 1666–9 (1908) 73 Sir Audley Mervin, Prime Sergeant at Law.
1733 G. Berkeley Let. in Wks. (1871) IV. 205 The prime serjeant, Singleton, may probably be a means of assisting you to get light in these particulars.
a1797 H. Howard in 3rd Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1872) 434/1 John Hely Hutchinson, Prime Serjt at law, ye vainest man alive, set his heart upon ye place.
c1799 Sir L. Parsons in Charlemont MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm. 1894) II. 404 There is no end of the turnings-out talked of,..——lord Carhampton, the prime serjeant,..and even Toler. The prime serjeant is, I believe, certain.
1806 A. Duncan Nelson's Funeral 31 Prime Serjeant.
d. Common Serjeant n. (also Common Serjeant at Law) A judicial officer appointed by the Corporation of London as an assistant to the Recorder.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > [noun] > magistrate in city or borough > assistant
Common Serjeant1556
1419 Liber Albus (Rolls) I. 47 Le..Commune Sergeaunt de ley, qui autrement est dit ‘Commune Countour’.]
1556 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 64 It was proclamyd opynly with the kynges shreffe & two harraldes & two pursevanttes & a trumpet, with the comyne sargant of the citte of London.
1680 Lex Londinensis 55 The Common Serjeant of the City is the only person intrusted by the Court of Aldermen to take all Inventories and Accompts of freemens' estates.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 292/2 Common Sergeant, an officer..who attends the lord mayor..on court days.
1861 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 2) xix. 366 So high judicial functionaries as the Recorder of London and the Common Sergeant are elected.
1861 H. T. Riley tr. Liber Albus 42 The Common Serjeant-at-law, who is otherwise called the ‘Common Countor’.
1887 Times 27 Aug. 11/4 The three City Judges (the Recorder, the Common Serjeant, and Mr. Commissioner Kerr).
1890 Times 28 Apr. 11/6 The Common Serjeant sentenced the prisoner to two years' hard labour.
7. in extended use.1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 211 A hundred Soldiers..follow'd with a hundred Serjeants at Mace.1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 289 He appears to be nothing more than a chief of bumbailiffs, serjeants at mace, catchpoles, jailers, and hangmen. View more context for this quotation† c. Scottish. An officer of a guild. Obsolete.
a. In the titles of certain inferior officers employed by the Corporation of the City of London, and by other municipal bodies.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > holder of office > other municipal officials > [noun]
sergeant1423
town officer1523
dozener1558
varlet1601
culler1663
rhingylla1722
wardman1792
town father1847
presidente1851
1423 Cov. Leet-bk. 43 Þer schall no beestys be pynnyd at the comen pynfold by the comien seriante.
1673 W. Cave Primitive Christianity iii. v. 359 Satan as the Common Serjeant and Jaylor seized upon them.
1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) ii. iii. xliv. 631 Serjeant-Carvers... Serjeants of the Chamber or Mace... Moses Griffith, Serjeant of the Channel.
1720 J. Strype Stow's Surv. of London (rev. ed.) II. v. xxix. 398/2 Formerly, before the great Fire..there were these Officers, viz. a Serjeant, and Yeoman of the Channel, and Yeoman of Newgate Market, and Foreign Taker, whose Office was to sweep and make clean the said Streets, where the Market People resorted, and to carry away the Soil thereof, and to furnish the Market People with Boards and such like Accommodations... But since Markets are removed out of the Streets..these Officers retain only the Names.
1766 J. Entick Surv. London i, in Hist. London III. 307 The officers belonging to the lord-mayor,..are..the three serjeant carvers; three serjeants of the chamber; a serjeant of the channel [etc.].
1835 1st Rep. Commissioners Munic. Corporations Eng. & Wales App. iv. 2345 in Parl. Papers (H.C. 116) XXV. 1 [At Lincoln.] Four Serjeants of the Key or Bailiffs.
1835 1st Rep. Commissioners Munic. Corporations Eng. & Wales App. ii. 998 in Parl. Papers (H.C. 116) XXIII. 133 The Mayor's Serjeant..serves process; attends the corporation meetings with a mace; and is sworn in as a constable... The Common Serjeant, who is also a serjeant at mace,..has the same salary and clothing as the mayor's serjeant.
b. sergeant at (†the) mace, †of (the) mace: an inferior executive officer (cf. sense 4), carrying a mace as a badge of office.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > holder of office > public officials > [noun] > official having mace as badge of office
sergeant at (the) mace, of (the) macec1420
sergeant of the verge1688
society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > an officer of the court > [noun] > official who executes orders of court > officer with mace as badge of office
sergeant at (the) mace, of (the) macec1420
c1420 Anturs of Arth. 64 The king..folowed fast one þe tras, Withe many Sergeant of mas.
c1420 Anturs of Arth. 498 Þe lordes bylyue hom to list ledes With many seriant of mace, as was þe manere.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 67/1 Ceriawnt of mace, apparitor.
1474 Rolls of Parl. VI. 103/1 Henry Neuton, oon of the Sergeants at Mace of Robert Billesdon, oon of the Shirrefs of the Cite of London.
1510 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 70 The meyer..sent oon John Yong sergeaunt att the mace within the seid Towne to the seid Priour.
1556 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 43 For arest of Robert Taylor sergant of maysse.
1680 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 506 If the Sergeants-at-Mace shall neglect theire duty in not summoning every member of the Council [etc.].
1715 London Gaz. No. 5394/4 Cesar Grist, Serjeant at Mace to the Bailiffs of the Corporation of Welsh Poole.
1761 in Entick London (1766) IV. 369 The serjeants at mace for the city to arrest for debt in the Borough.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 292 Sergeants of the mace of an inferior kind.
18351 [see sense 7a]. 1901 Whitaker's Almanack 178 [Lord Mayor's Court.] Sergeant at Mace.
ΚΠ
1557 Baxter-bks. St. Andrews (1903) 10 viii d to thomas demster, yair schargant.
8. Military(Now always written sergeant.) In modern use, a non-commissioned officer of the grade above that of corporal. In the 16th cent. the title, more explicitly †sergeant of a band [= French sergent de bande] , appears, like many other military titles, to have indicated a much higher rank than in later times. See also colour sergeant n., drill-sergeant n. at drill n.2 Compounds 2, recruiting sergeant n. at recruiting n. Compounds 1, sergeant-major n.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer by rank > [noun] > sergeant
sergeant1548
halberd1595
sarge1867
Sgt.1899
Sarn't1930
snake1945
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer by rank > [noun] > officer of other specific ranks
warden1297
constablec1300
sergeant of a band1548
gill-master1598
vinton1610
subcommander1612
exempt1700
exon1767
serrefiles1897
Queen A.T.1943
1548 W. Patten Exped. Scotl. H vij b Sargeauntes of the band to the foreward.
1579 L. Digges & T. Digges Stratioticos 86 This Serjeant ought perfitly by memorie to know every Souldiour within the Bande.
1590 R. Williams Briefe Disc. Warre 26 The least Serieant of a Band, being a naturall Spaniard, will seeme to command the greatest man of qualitie of anie other Nation.
1593 M. Sutcliffe Pract., Proc., & Lawes of Armes 61 The officers of companies, namely lieutenants, ensignes, sergiants, corporals, are chosen by the captaines of companies.
1596 W. Raleigh Discoverie Guiana (new ed.) 17 A Surgeant or Alferez.
1624 W. G. tr. E. von Mansfeld Direct. Warre 11 If all the three fore-named Officers [Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign] be out of the way by any accident, then the eldest Sergiant is to command the Company as next in place.
1690 J. Mackenzie Siege London-derry 47/2 Serjeants, Corporals, Drummers, and private Men 2d. per diem each, besides Bread.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 87. ⁋1 The Epistle is from one Serjeant Hall of the Foot-Guards.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xi. 145 All disputed points were settled by the sergeant of marines with a party, who divided their antagonists from the Jews.
1898 G. W. Steevens With Kitchener to Khartum 274 ‘Fall out, sergeant, you're wounded,’ said the subaltern of his troop.
9. (Now always written sergeant.) A police officer, of higher rank than a simple constable; in Great Britain ranking next below an inspector.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman > policeman of specific rank
superintendent1789
police inspector1824
police sergeant1824
sergeant1839
inspector1840
station sergeant1846
detective-sergeant1850
detective-inspector1898
desk sergeant1908
sarge1926
skipper1929
supe1977
1839 T. Hood Lost Heir 36 Oh serjeant McFarlane! you have not come across my poor little boy, have you, in your beat?
1856 A. Wynter Curiosities of Civilisation 469 The force consists of three inspectors, nine sergeants, and a body of police termed ‘plain-clothes men’.
Compounds
C1. (Now commonly written sergeant; in some uses serjeant appears to be officially adopted.) In the titles of certain officers of the Royal Household.
a. The head of a specified department, as sergeant of the cellar, sergeant of the saucery, sergeant of the vestry. †Also sergeant of the bears, a bearward; sergeant of the minstrels; sergeant of the surgeons, sergeant of the trumpets = sergeant-surgeon, sergeant-trumpeter.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > holder of office > official of royal or great household > [noun] > head of specific department
servanta1400
sergeant1450
1450 Rolls of Parl. V. 192/1 William Pecke Clerke of oure Spicerye, Ric' Ludlowe Sergeant of oure Seler.
1450 Rolls of Parl. V. 192/1 Robert Broune Sergeant of oure Saucerye.
1450 Rolls of Parl. V. 192/1 Sergeant of oure Chaundelerye.
1526 Eltham Ordinances in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 140 The Serjeant of the bake-house.
1526 Eltham Ordinances in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 141 The Serjeant of the chaundry... The Serjeant of the ewry.
1526 Eltham Ordinances in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 142 The Serjeant of the larder.
1526 Eltham Ordinances in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 143 The Serjeant of the squillery.
1526 Eltham Ordinances in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 169 Serjeant of the Mynstrills.
1539 T. Cromwell Let. 24 Apr. in R. B. Merriman Life & Lett. T. Cromwell (1902) II. 221 Jennyns sergeant of your graces pasterye house.
1541 in Vicary's Anat. Bodie of Man (1888) App. ii. 109 Thomas Sperin and his son, sergiantes of the beres.
1561 Will of Thomas Vicary in Vicary's Anat. Bodie of Man (1888) App. vi. 187 I, Thomas Vicars, Seriante of the Suriantes vnto our saide soueraigne ladie the quenes maiestie.
1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) i. ii. xiv. 120–1 The Sergeant of the King's Wood-Yard... The Sergeant of the Ewry... The Sergeant of the Larder.
1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) ii. iii. xvii. 534 H. Parker, Esq; Serj. of the Vestry.
1721 J. Strype Eccl. Memorials II. i. i. 2 The Sergeants of the Trumpets.
b. Prefixed appositively to certain designations of office.Many other similar designations, adopted from Anglo-Norman, and not proved to have been used in English, will be found in F. Tate, Household Ord. Edw. II, 1601 (new ed. 1876).
sergeant-cater n.
ΚΠ
1614 T. Gentleman Englands Way to win Wealth 25 His Maiesties Seriant Cater.
sergeant-farrier n. (also sergeant-ferrour)
sergeant-footman n.
ΚΠ
1901 Westm. Gaz. 9 May 7/3 Sergeant-footman Boswell.
sergeant-painter n.
ΚΠ
1548 in A. J. Kempe Losely MSS (1836) 81 To Anthony Toto, sergeante payntor, in rewarde for his paynes takyng..in drawyng of patrons for the masks 20s.
1720 London Gaz. No. 5848/3 His Majesty's Serjeant-Painter.
1887 W. Pater Imag. Portraits 146 The sergeant-painter and deputy sergeant-painter were conventional performers enough.
sergeant-plumber n.
ΚΠ
1533 in Hampton Court Accts. The Kynges sergeaunt plumber.
1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders 58 The Serjeant Plummer calling his workmen to caste in his presence a Leaden Medal.
sergeant-porter n.
ΚΠ
1450 Rolls of Parl. V. 192/2 John Stok Sergeant porter of oure Gate.
1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) ii. iii. xix. 545 To the Serjeant Porter.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth II. iii. 45 One of the serjeant porters told them they could not at present enter.
1901 Whitaker's Almanack 87 Sergeant State Porter.
sergeant-skinner n.
ΚΠ
1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) ii. iii. xix. 545 Serjeant skinner.
sergeant-squiller n.
ΚΠ
a1483 Liber Niger in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 81 He rescevethe..all the plates of peautyr by the pourveyaunce of the sergeaunt-squylloure.
sergeant-surgeon n. (also †sergeant-chirurgeon)
ΚΠ
1565 J. Hall Hist. Expost. in tr. Lanfranc Most Excellent Woorke Chirurg. sig. Bbbiij Maister Vicary, late Sargeant Chyrurgien to the Queenes highnes.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones III. viii. xiii. 269 Serjeant-Surgeon to the King. View more context for this quotation
1812 London Gaz. No. 16663. 2189/1 Serjeant-Surgeon to His Majesty.
1901 Whitaker's Almanack 88 Sergeant Surgeon, Lord Lister.
sergeant-tailor n.
ΚΠ
1480 Wardrobe Accts. Edward IV in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York (1830) 155 George Lufkyn Sergeant taillour of the grete Warderobe of the Kyng.
sergeant-trumpet n.
ΚΠ
1708 London Gaz. No. 4416/4 Her Majesty has appointed John Shore, Esq; Serjeant-Trumpet of Great Britain.
sergeant-trumpeter n.
C2. (In sense 8.) Prefixed appositively to various designations of offices in which sergeants are employed.
sergeant armourer n.
ΚΠ
1810 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1836) VI. 308 Serjeant armourers and serjeant saddlers' implements.
sergeant bugler n.
ΚΠ
1901 Whitaker's Almanack 220 Sergt. Bugler.
sergeant clerk n.
ΚΠ
1895 Outing 27 252/1 It changes the title of the brigade sergeant-major to that of sergeant-clerk.
sergeant compounder n.
sergeant cook n.
ΚΠ
1901 Whitaker's Almanack 220 Sergeant Cook.
sergeant drummer n.
ΚΠ
1899 Westm. Gaz. 27 June 1/2 A sergeant-drummer in each battalion of the Grenadier, Coldstream, and Scots Guards.
sergeant farrier n.
ΚΠ
?1528 J. Skelton Dyuers Balettys & Dyties xiii Haue in sergeaunt ferrour myne horse behynde is bare.
1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) ii. iii. xx. 549 Serjeant Farrier, John Willis, Esq.
sergeant instructor n.
ΚΠ
1876 G. E. Voyle Mil. Dict. (ed. 3) Sergeant instructor.
sergeant master tailor n.
ΚΠ
1865 Army Clothing Warrant 30 The Sergeant Master Tailor.
sergeant-pilot n.
ΚΠ
1919 J. T. B. McCudden Five Years in R.F.C. III. iii. 86 About the end of August, 1915, a Serjeant-Pilot named Watts arrived for duty.
1963 J. Lusby in ‘B. James’ Austral. Short Stories 221 The new boys comprised Australians, Englishmen, and Canadians... Most were sergeant-pilots, and in age retired school-boys.
sergeant saddler n.
sergeant schoolmaster n.
ΚΠ
1837 King's Regul. Army 239 The Serjeant-Schoolmasters.
sergeant tailor n.
ΚΠ
1900 Westm. Gaz. 12 Dec. 4/2 The Secretary of State..is causing inquiries to be made on the feasibility of having officers' uniforms made by the sergeant-tailors of their regiments.
sergeant trumpeter n.
ΚΠ
1588 Deloney in Roxburghe Ballads (1887) VI. 391 The Sargeant trumpet with his mace, and nyne with trumpets after him, Bare headed went before her grace.
1603 in Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS: Var. Coll. (1904) III. 164 Serjeant trumpeter.
1700 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) I. 413 Gervas Price esq., serjeant trumpeter to his majestie, died lately.
1901 Whitaker's Almanack 87 Sergeant Trumpeter.
C3. † sergeant corn n. Scottish Obsolete ? some feudal impost paid in corn.† sergeant-loaf n. Obsolete some kind of bread.† serjeant's ring n. Obsolete one of the rings which a newly appointed serjeant-at-law was required by custom to present to various persons of high rank or official position.
Sergeant Baker n. Australian a fish of New South Wales, Aulopus purpurissatus.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > class Osteichthyes or Teleostomi > order Siluriformes (catfish) > [noun] > member of family Aulopidae (sergeant baker)
Sergeant Baker1882
1882 J. E. Tenison-Woods Fish & Fisheries New S. Wales 82 The Sergeant Baker in all probability..was called after a sergeant of that name.
ΚΠ
1581 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 107/2 Lie serjand-corne.
sergeant-fish n. a name applied to various fishes having marks like the stripes on the sleeve of a sergeant's uniform, esp. Rachycentron canadum, the cobia, a large game fish found in tropical and subtropical seas.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > suborder Percoidei > [noun] > family Rachycentridae
sergeant-fish1873
1873 Forest & Stream I. 258/1 Sergeant Fish..derives its trivial name from a black stripe running along its silvery sides..like that on the trowsers of a sergeant.
1884 G. B. Goode in G. B. Goode et al. Fisheries U.S.: Sect. I 444 The name ‘Sergeant-fish’ refers to its peculiar coloration, several stripes of brown and gray being visible on the sides of the body.
1947 K. H. Barnard Pictorial Guide S. Afr. Fishes 112 Sergeant~fish... A somewhat rare fish, of elongate shape,..occasionally caught at Port Elizabeth and Natal.
1958 Washington Post 24 Sept. 1/2 An unusually fine run of cobia (the sergeant fish)..has caused big game fishermen to toss caution to the gods of Izaak Walton.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > bread > [noun] > other types of bread
sergeant-loafa1348
clear-matin1362
bean-breadc1380
French bread1420
pease-breada1425
bran-breadc1425
grey breadc1430
angels' breadc1440
dough bread?a1500
baker's bread?1550
acorn bread1571
cart-bread1574
chapter-bread1600
diet-bread1617
ember-bread1681
buff coat1688
bust-coat1706
Picentine bread1712
chestnut-bread1814
naan1828
gluten-bread1846
to-bread1854
batch-bread1862
injera1868
coffee cake1879
pan dulce1882
quick bread1882
sour bread1884
Tommy1895
focaccia1905
hard-dough bread1911
hush puppy1918
potica1927
spoon bread1932
bake1933
pitta1936
hard-dough1966
pain de campagne1970
pocket bread1973
ciabatta1985
pain au levain1985
levain1991
a1348 Secretum Abb. Glastonie (MS Wood empt. 1) lf. 146v Unum panem uocatum Priketlof, et alterum panem uocatum Bastardlof et tercium panem uocatum seriauntlof de Panetria predicti abbatis.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > jewellery > ring > [noun] > other types of ring
kine-ringc1225
pontificala1500
hoop-ring1545
death's head1577
ring of remembrance1659
serjeant's ring1690
garter-ring1709
bath-ring1771
solitaire1832
regard ring1853
key ring1856
bodylet1870
portrait ring1877
tower-ring1877
whistle-ring1877
marquise1885
princess-ring1886
dinner ring1890
cluster ring1897
eternity ring1939
1690 London Gaz. No. 2613/4 They offered to sell or pawn.., one Gold Sergeants Ring, and one pair of Gold Lockets.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† sergeantadj.
Obsolete. rare.
In grand sergeant, petit sergeant, said of a tenure by grand or petit serjeanty respectively.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > tenure of property > [adjective] > tenure by personal service to king
petit sergeanta1513
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) ii. xxii. sig. r.vv Many helde their landes..By tenure grand seriant..Some by petit seriant.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
† sergeantv.
Obsolete. rare.
intransitive. To act as a sergeant.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military service > serve as a soldier [verb (intransitive)] > lead or command
leada900
sergeantc1430
command-in-chief1759
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) iv. xxi. 187 After þat þat þe matere is..ordeyned, þer after j shal sergeaunte [Fr. use de ma commission] and werche diuerseliche.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.c1200
adj.a1513v.c1430