lance sergeant

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noun British Military.

a sergeant of the lowest rank.

(formerly) a corporal appointed to act as sergeant, without increase in pay; an acting sergeant.

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Origin of lance sergeant

First recorded in 1805–15; see origin at lance corporal

Words nearby lance sergeant

lanceolate, lancepod, lancer, lance rest, lancers, lance sergeant, lancet, lancet arch, lancet clock, lanceted, lancetfish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lance sergeant in a sentence

“Stay in formation,” a sergeant from the ceremonial unit said over a public address system to the cops along the street.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Prince may have pranced around like a carefree libertine onstage, but in rehearsal he was more drill sergeant than sprite.
Speed Read: The Juiciest Bits From the History of ‘Purple Rain’|Jennie Yabroff|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
While the desk sergeant ran a background check, he was roughed up by another officer in the lock-up.
What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face?|Goldie Taylor|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As I forced my exhausted body to exercise, I yelled at my legs like a drill sergeant, demanding five more minutes or one more set.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

A squad soon arrived to take him away, and I saw the sergeant punch him in the face even though he went quietly.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Napoleon landed at Elba at an early hour in disguise, with a sergeant's company of marines.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Right over the stone marker, a long-shafted war-lance was carved—the blade pointing down.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Fixing bayonets and leaving the sergeant dead in the doorway, they charged again into the mass of the enemy.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
He turned his arm so that we could see the ripped stitching where his sergeant's stripes had been cut away.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
When the French generals reached the Austrian end they found a sergeant of engineers actually proceeding to fire the fuse.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for lance sergeant

lance sergeant

noun

a corporal acting as a sergeant, usually on a temporary basis and without additional pay

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