adjutant, a. and n.
(ˈædʒ(j)ʊtənt)
Also corruptly agitant.
[ad. L. adjūtant-em pr. pple. of adjūtā-re to assist, freq. of adjuvā-re to assist; f. ad to + juvā-re to help. See -ant.]
A. adj. Helping, auxiliary, assistant.
| 1676 Bullokar, Adjutant, helping. 1880 Burton Q. Anne II. ix. 58 With adjutant vessels and small craft there were upwards of a hundred and fifty sail. |
B. n.
1. An assistant or helper. Now rare in the general sense.
| 1622 R. Hawkins Voy. to S. Sea (1847) 84 The pilot, or his adjutants, which are the same officers which in our shippes we terme the master and his mates. 1644 Bulwer Chiron. 17 The Hands so surpassing in dignity all the other corporall adjutants of man's wit. a 1733 North Examen iii. vii. §54. 542 These [petitions] were put into the Hands of Agitants and Sub-agitants in the Countries about. 1856 Kane Arctic Explor. II. xix. 191 Taking with me Morton, my faithful adjutant always. |
2. Mil. An officer in the army whose business it is to assist the superior officers by receiving and communicating orders, conducting correspondence, and the like.
| 1600 Holland Livy xxxviii. xlvii. 1013 My ten adjutants [pr. adjacents] or suffraganes [legatis], whome our ancestors thought good to give unto their Generals in the war. 1622 Bacon Jul. Cæs. Wks. 1860, 503 In great battles he would sit in his pavilion, and manage all by adjutants. 1751 Chambers Cycl., Adjutant is the same that we otherwise call Aid-Major. 1868 Regul. & Ord. Army §857 All guards are, previous to marching on duty, to be inspected and sized by the Adjutant. |
3. Ornith. (Also adjutant-bird, -crane, -stork.) A gigantic species of stork (Ciconia Argala) native to India; so called from its stiff quasi-military gait when walking.
| 1798 Pennant Hindostan II. 156 The Argali or Adjutant, or Gigantic Crane of Latham. 1831 Tyerman & Bennet Voy. & Trav. II. xlv. 343 The adjutant-crane is a privileged carrion-eater throughout India. 1857 S. Osborn Quedah ix. 110 The tall adjutant..a very king of fishing birds. 1880 Daily Tel. 28 Oct., The adjutant-bird and the black turkey buzzard. |