sergeant major
• noun
A senior non-commissioned officer in the army, marines, or similar armed forces, typically serving as the chief administrative assistant of a headquarters or acting as the senior enlisted advisor.
"The sergeant major inspected the newly arrived recruits on the parade ground."
A small, brightly striped damselfish (Abudefduf saxatilis) native to tropical and subtropical coral reefs in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, named for its resemblance to the striped insignia of military rank.
"While snorkeling off the coast of Florida, we saw a large school of sergeant majors darting through the shallow reef."
Word Nuance & Usage
When making this noun plural, the traditional and formal form is 'sergeants major,' though 'sergeant majors' is frequently used in everyday contexts.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.