sergeant at arms
3
7.3
- noun
- /ˈsɑrdʒənt æt ɑrmz/
- Formal
:
sereno
- Sergeant-at-arms, would you see what's going on back there?
- sergeant at arms in the House
- sergeant at arms in the Senate
- sergeant at arms restores order
Examples
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Sergeant-at-arms, I must have these aisles clear!
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He was sergeant at arms at the Long Island Dentists Guild.
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Outside one door, the sergeant at arms stood waiting.
Fiction book (1999) -
And to the deputy Sergeant at Arms for ensuring our safety.
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And the sergeant at arms will clear the aisle.
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And the sergeant at arms, clear the aisles!
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My mother was a faithful member and had once served as sergeant-at-arms.
Fiction book (1992) -
She turned to see the sergeant-at-arms emerge onto the roof.
Fiction book (1999) -
People may think legislators are violating the law because the sergeant-at-arms has the authority to fine lawmakers, but the Senate Democrats are not in violation of any laws, said UW political science professor Dennis Dresang.
Blog text (27) -
The sergeant at arms ensured that all attendees followed the rules during the meeting.
Synonyms
An officer who keeps order in a parliament or court and carries out official orders
Surface Forms
Morphology
The parts 'sergeant' (an officer) and 'arms' (weapons) give a clear military/security association, so a learner might infer it refers to an officer connected with weapons or security. However, the established institutional title 'sergeant at arms' denotes the person who keeps order and enforces rules in a legislature or organization — a specific ceremonial/administrative role not fully predictable from the literal parts. Because the relation is partly clear but the exact duty is conventional and title-like, it is only partially transparent to learners.
Etymology
The phrase sergeant at arms comes from long ago when a sergeant was an officer who looked after a group's arms ('weapons') and stood with a staff or mace to control people. That's why today a sergeant at arms is the officer who keeps order and security at meetings.