sergeant at arms

sergeant at arms
an executive officer of a legislative or other body, whose duty it is to enforce its commands, preserve order, etc.
[1350-1400; ME]

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      an officer of a legislative body, court of law, or other organization who preserves order and executes commands. In feudal England a sergeant at arms was an armed officer of a lord and was often one of a special body required to be in immediate attendance on the king's person, to arrest traitors and other offenders. Through this function, the title of sergeant at arms eventually came to denote certain court, parliamentary (Parliament), and city officials with ceremonial (and ostensibly disciplinary) functions. Each house of the British Parliament has a sergeant at arms, as does each house of the U.S. Congress. The duties of the sergeant at arms in the British House of Commons include attendance on the speaker, with the mace, and the maintenance of order in the House and its precincts. The sergeants of the U.S. Congress have similar duties.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Sergeant-at-arms — Sergeant Ser geant, n. [F. sergent, fr. L. serviens, entis, p. pr. of servire to serve. See {Serve}, and cf. {Servant}.] [Written also {serjeant}. Both spellings are authorized. In England {serjeant} is usually preferred, except for military… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sergeant-at-arms — sergeant at armsˈ or serjeant at armsˈ noun An officer of a legislative body or the Court of Chancery, for making arrests, etc • • • Main Entry: ↑sergeant …   Useful english dictionary

  • sergeant-at-arms — [sär′jəntət ärmz′] n. pl. sergeants at arms an officer appointed to keep order in a legislature, court, social club, etc. * * * …   Universalium

  • sergeant-at-arms — [sär′jəntət ärmz′] n. pl. sergeants at arms an officer appointed to keep order in a legislature, court, social club, etc …   English World dictionary

  • sergeant at arms — noun count an official in a court of law or other institution whose job is to make people obey the rules …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • sergeant at arms — noun an officer (as of a legislature or court) who maintains order and executes commands • Syn: ↑serjeant at arms • Topics: ↑legislature, ↑legislative assembly, ↑legislative body, ↑general assembly, ↑law makers …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate — Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate ist die offizielle Bezeichnung für die Person, die für die Durchsetzung der Gesetze beim Senat der Vereinigten Staaten zuständig ist. Eine der wichtigsten Aufgaben des Sergeants ist es, für die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives — The United States House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms is an officer of the House with law enforcement, protocol, and administrative responsibilities. The Sergeant at Arms is elected at the beginning of each Congress by the membership of the …   Wikipedia

  • Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate — This article is part of the series: United States Senate …   Wikipedia

  • Sergeant-at-arms — At this period an officer of the crown, with authority to act in the king s name. Cf. Sergeant and Serjeant at law …   Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases

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