under-sergeant

From under- +‎ sergeant.

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  Note: this pronuncation may be nonstandard or incorrect: emphasis should be on the first syllable

under-sergeant (plural under-sergeants)

1. (military) A non-commissioned officer army rank immediately below a sergeant; corporal.
   • 1994, Fiona Darcy, “SAM CALDER OBE, DFC”, in Journal of Northern Territory History, number 5:

     Because of his cadet experience he was immediately made an under-sergeant, and was responsible for the discipline of the thirty or so students on the course, and was answerable to the Commanding Officer.

   • 2010, K Eckhard Kuhn-Osius, “Germany's Lessons From the Lost "Great War": Pacifist Andreas Latzko and Bellicist Walter Flex”, in Peace Research, volume 42, numbers 1-2:

     The three most important minor characters are Ensign von Krixlow, who serves in the same battalion, and the poet Weiler and under-sergeant Frôbel, who serve in the same platoon as Gadsky.

   • 2011 March 16, “Bahrain fires at protesters; 2 dead, 150 injured”, in CNN:

     One Saudi soldier, an under-sergeant, was killed in Bahrain on Tuesday, a Saudi official said.

Typically used as a translation for the rank in the army of a non-English-speaking country.