ser·geant
(sär′jənt)n.1. a. A noncommissioned rank in the US Army or Marine Corps that is above corporal and below staff sergeant.
b. Any of several ranks of noncommissioned officers in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps: master gunnery sergeant; staff sergeant.
c. One who holds any of these ranks.
2. a. The rank of police officer next below a captain, lieutenant, or inspector.
b. A police officer holding this rank.
3. A sergeant at arms.
[Middle English sergeaunte, a common soldier, from Old French sergent, from Medieval Latin serviēns, servient-, servant, soldier, from Late Latin, public official, from Latin, present participle of servīre, to serve, from servus, slave.]
ser′gean·cy, ser′geant·ship′ n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.