Lieutenant

A Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary or police officer.

Related Topics:
Military - Paramilitary - Police - Officer

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The word lieutenant derives from French; the lieu meaning "place" as in a position; and tenant meaning "holding" as in "holding a position"; thus a "lieutenant" is somebody who holds a position in the absence of his superior.

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The British monarch's representative in Ireland and in the counties of the United Kingdom was/is called the Lord-Lieutenant. In French history, "lieutenant du roi" was a title borne by the officer sent with military powers to represent the king in certain provinces. It is in the sense of a deputy that it has entered into the titles of more senior officers, Lieutenant General and Lieutenant Colonel.

Related Topics:
British monarch - Ireland - United Kingdom - Lord-Lieutenant - French history - Lieutenant General - Lieutenant Colonel

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In the nineteenth century those British writers who either considered this word an imposition on the English language or difficult for common soldiers and sailors argued for it to be replaced by the calque "steadholder."

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