private first class

noun

1. a soldier ranking above a private and below a corporal or specialist fourth class in the U.S. Army, and above a private and below a lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Word History and Origins

Origin of private first class¹

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

Sure he'd get private first-class as soon as they got overseas.

From Project Gutenberg