staff officer
† 1. A high officer of the royal household, or minister of state, bearing a white staff. See staff n.1 7. Obs.
| 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3862/1 The Duke of Ormond, being the Staff-Officer in waiting. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Officer, Staff Officers are such as in the King's Presence bear a white Staff; and at other times, going abroad, have a white Staff borne before them by a Footman bare-headed. Such are the Lord Steward, Lord Chamberlain, Lord Treasurer, &c. |
2. Mil. † a. A non-commissioned officer. Obs.
| 1702 Milit. Dict. (1704) s.v. Officer, Warrant, and Staff-Officers, those who have not the King's Commission, but are appointed by the Colonels and Captains, as Quarter⁓masters, Serjeants, Corporals. [ed. 4, 1711, adds: and in the same Number are included Chaplains and Surgeons]. 1706 Farquhar Recruiting Officer v. v, Kite. [A sergeant, addressing a constable] And then we are both staff-officers. 1709 Lond. Gaz. No. 4590/3 Forty-four Staff-Officers. 1727 H. Bland Milit. Discipl. v. 61 The Staff-Officers, viz. Chaplain, Adjutant, Quarter-Master, Surgeon and Mate. |
b. An officer doing duty with the general or departmental staff of an army, division, or brigade. Cf. G. stabsoffizier.
| 1777 Sheridan Sch. Scand. iv. i, Why then, he shall have him for ten pounds, and I'm sure that's not dear for a staff-officer. 1802 C. James Milit. Dict. F ff 3/1 No officer must ride between the divisions on a march, except General and Staff officers. 1811 Regul. & Orders Army 29 Aides-de-Camp, Brigade-Majors, and other Staff Officers. 1864 [see sashery]. 1912 Trevelyan Geo. III & Fox I. iii. 112 When he was a young staff officer on active service. |
c. In the United States navy, an officer not exercising military command.
| 1891 in Century Dict. |