Staff officer

† 1.  A high officer of the royal household, or minister of state, bearing a white staff. See STAFF sb.¹ 7. Obs.

1702.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3862/1. The Duke of Ormond, being the Staff-Officer in waiting.

1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Officer, Staff Officers are such as in the King’s Presence bear a white Staff; and at other times, going abroad, have a white Staff borne before them by a Footman bare-headed. Such are the Lord Steward, Lord Chamberlain, Lord Treasurer, &c.

  2.  Mil. † a. A non-commissioned officer. Obs.

1702.  Milit. Dict. (1704), s.v. Officer, Warrant, and Staff-Officers, those who have not the King’s Commission, but are appointed by the Colonels and Captains, as Quartermasters, Serjeants, Corporals. [ed. 4, 1711, adds: and in the same Number are included Chaplains and Surgeons].

1706.  Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, V. v. Kite. [A sergeant, addressing a constable] And then we are both staff-officers.

1709.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4590/3. Forty-four Staff-Officers.

1727.  H. Bland, Milit. Discipl., v. 61. The Staff-Officers, viz. Chaplain, Adjutant, Quarter-Master, Surgeon and Mate.

  b.  An officer doing duty with the general or departmental staff of an army, division or brigade. Cf. G. stabsoffizier.

1777.  Sheridan, Sch. Scand., IV. i. Why then, he shall have him for ten pounds, and I’m sure that’s not dear for a staff-officer.

1802.  C. James, Milit. Dict., F ff 3/1. No officer must ride between the divisions on a march, except General and Staff officers.

1811.  Regul. & Orders Army, 29. Aides-de-Camp, Brigade-Majors, and other Staff Officers.

1864.  [see SASHERY].

1912.  Trevelyan, Geo. III. & Fox, I. iii. 102. Lord Amherst, mindful of the time when he was a young staff-officer on active service, [etc.].

  c.  In the United States navy, an officer not exercising military command.

1891.  in Century Dict.