drum major

noun

the marching leader of a drum corps or a band.

Origin of drum major

First recorded in 1590–1600

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for drum major

Historical Examples of drum major

There's somebody's come in, into the kitchen; may be it's the drum-major.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
And how will I git all in again, before the drum-major's in it?
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
I beg your pardon for not knowing—would it be the drum-major, sir?
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
Loubet, before parting with his, gave it a twirl as a drum-major does his cane.
The Downfall
Emile Zola
There, all the drum-major does with his stick is just to point it the way the band is to go.
Back Home
Eugene Wood

British Dictionary definitions for drum major

drum major

noun

the noncommissioned officer, usually of warrant officer's rank, who is appointed to command the corps of drums of a military band and who is in command of both the drums and the band when paraded together

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012