| 释义 |
ˈmajor-ˈgeneral Mil.
[a. F. major-général, where major is the n. and général the adj. Cf. G. generalmajor. The fuller form sergeant-major general is earlier in Eng. use; sergeant major major occurs in Sir J. Smyth Instr. Observ. & Orders Milit. (1595) 60, 61.]
1. An officer of the lowest grade of general officers, ranking below a lieutenant-general.
1642Whitelocke Mem. 65 The city bands marched forth..under the command of major-general Skippon. 1647Clarendon Hist. Rebell. vii. §86 James Chudleigh, the major general of the rebels. 1710Lond. Gaz. No. 4723/2 The Brigadiers Juel and Daa were created Majors-General. 1806Gazetteer Scotl. (ed. 2) Introd. 35 The military establishment of Scotland consists of a lieutenant general, three major generals [etc.]. 1849W. Irving Goldsmith 279 He had..been promoted to the rank of major-general in 1745.
2. Hist. The title given to the officers placed in command of the twelve administrative districts into which England was divided in Cromwell's system of military government (1655–1657).
1655Whitelocke Mem. 634 The protector told them [the mayor and common council] the reasons of his appointing major-generals in the several counties, as a means to preserve the peace, to suppress wickedness [etc.]. 1655Cromwell in Thurloe's St. Papers (1742) III. 486 We..do hereby constitute..you the said major general Disbrowe to be major general of all the militia forces raised and to be raised within the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wilts, and Gloucester.
Hence ˈmajor-ˈgeneralcy, the office or rank of major-general; ˈmajor-ˈgeneralship = prec.; also Hist. the district commanded by a major-general.
1670Hobbes Behemoth iv. (1682) 307 He [Cromwell] divided England into eleven Major-Generalships. 1845Carlyle Cromwell (1871) IV. 245 Now their Major Generalcies have all proved failures. 1885U. S. Grant Mem. II. xlv. 98, I..strongly recommended him for a major-generalcy. 1898Daily News 28 Nov. 5/1 His bravery on the field of Omdurman has won him his Major-Generalship. |
