Serjeant-at-arms

A ceremonial mace (English, 17th century) as carried by the monarch's sergeants-at-arms on state occasions.

A serjeant-at-arms or sergeant-at-arms[a] is an officer appointed by a deliberative body, usually a legislature, to keep order during its meetings. The word "serjeant" is derived from the Latin serviens, which means "servant". Historically, serjeants-at-arms were armed men retained by English lords and monarchs, and the ceremonial maces which they are associated with were originally a type of weapon.[2]

  1. ^ "sergeant-at-arms: definition of sergeant-at-arms in Oxford English Dictionary". Oxford English Dictionary. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  2. ^ Allison & Riddell (1991). The Royal Encyclopaedia. London: Macmillan.


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