service stripe

American  

noun

Military.

1. a stripe worn on the left sleeve by an enlisted person to indicate a specific period of time served on active duty.

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Etymology

Origin of service stripe

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

He saw the service stripes and the two medals on the breast, and his eyes brightened.

From Project Gutenberg

He’d have a grosbeak ‘skun a mile’!” gasped Stud, following the direction of her glance, with a virtuous consciousness of his own cave-soiled khaki, moderately lit by merit badge and service stripe.

From Project Gutenberg

“No,” he replied gratefully, “it’s a service stripe.”

From Project Gutenberg

About the mascot's chest the Wildcat adjusted the O.D. shirt with its three service stripes.

From Project Gutenberg

Mother wailed that all the deck-chairs had been taken; Father found mountains of chairs and flipped a couple of them open as though he were a steward with service stripes.

From Project Gutenberg