brevet
1 of 2noun
bre·vet bri-ˈvet 
chiefly British ˈbre-vit
: a commission giving a military officer higher nominal rank than that for which pay is received
brevet
2 of 2verb
brevetted or breveted; brevetting or breveting
transitive verb
: to confer rank upon by brevet
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, document, from Anglo-French, diminutive of bref letter — more at brief
First Known Use
Noun
1689, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1812, in the meaning defined above