commissariat
[kom-uh-sair-ee-uh t]
- any of the major governmental divisions of the U.S.S.R.: called ministry since 1946.
- the organized method or manner by which food, equipment, transport, etc., is delivered to armies.
- the department of an army charged with supplying provisions.
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Origin of commissariat
1600–10; < New Latin commissāriātus, equivalent to Medieval Latin commissāri(us) commissary + -ātus -ate3; (def 1) < Russian komissariát ≪ New Latin, as above
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for commissariat
Historical Examples
Our men lacked for nothing: the commissariat was managed admirably.
FreelandTheodor Hertzka
He also contracted to supply the commissariat, which he did with advantage to the army and profit to himself.
Self-HelpSamuel Smiles
The commissariat was demoralised, and supplies were not forthcoming.
The Trampling of the LiliesRafael Sabatini
Huge trains of the commissariat were continually on the road.
The one was the commissariat department; the other was the fighting line.
History of the Moravian ChurchJ. E. Hutton
commissariat
- (in the former Soviet Union) a government department before 1946Now called: ministry
- a military department in charge of food supplies, equipment, etc
- the offices of such a department
- food supplies
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Word Origin
C17: from New Latin commissāriātus, from Medieval Latin commissārius commissary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for commissariat
n.
c.1600, in Scottish law, "commissary court," from French commissariat, from Medieval Latin *commissariatus, from commissarius (see commissary). Military use is from 1779. In reference to the USSR, "ministry," from 1918.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper