sergeant: [12] A sergeant is etymologically simply a ‘servant’ – and indeed that is what the word originally meant in English. It comes via Old French sergent from Latin servient-, the present participial stem of servīre ‘serve’. It was subsequently incorporated into the terminology of the feudal system, roughly equivalent in application to esquire, and it was also used for various legal officers, but it does not seem to have become a specific military rank until the mid 16th century. ‘Sergeant’ then was a comparatively exalted position, but by the end of the century we see it settling into its modern niche as a senior noncommissioned officer. => servant, serve
sergeant (n.)
c. 1200, "servant," from Old French sergent, serjant "(domestic) servant, valet; court official; soldier," from Medieval Latin servientum (nominative serviens) "servant, vassal, soldier" (in Late Latin "public official"), from Latin servientem "serving," present participle of servire "to serve" (see serve (v.)); cognate with Spanish sirviente, Italian servente; a twin of servant, and 16c. writers sometimes use the two words interchangeably.
Specific sense of "military servant" is attested from late 13c.; that of "officer whose duty is to enforce judgments of a tribunal or legislative body" is from c. 1300 (sergeant at arms is attested from late 14c.). Meaning "non-commissioned military officer" first recorded 1540s. Originally a much more important rank than presently. As a police rank, in Great Britain from 1839.
Middle English alternative spelling serjeant (from Old French) was retained in Britain in special use as title of a superior order of barristers (c. 1300, from legal Latin serviens ad legem, "one who serves (the king) in matters of law"), from which Common Law judges were chosen; also used of certain other officers of the royal household. sergeant-major is from 1570s. The sergeant-fish (1871) so-called for lateral markings resembling a sergeant's stripes. Related: Sergeancy.
双语例句
1. I left a sergeant in command and rode forward to reconnoitre.
我留下一名中士指挥，自己策马前去侦察敌情。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The bullet lodged in the sergeant's leg, shattering his thigh bone.
子弹嵌进了中士的腿里，使其股骨碎裂。
来自柯林斯例句
3. His father is a staff sergeant in the army.
他父亲是一名陆军上士。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Sergeant Cobbins was an experienced officer and didn't miss much.
科宾斯巡佐是一位经验丰富的警官，很少有东西从他眼皮底下溜走。
来自柯林斯例句
5. His hands were clasped behind him like a drill sergeant.
