[SUB- 6. Cf. F. souslieutenant.]
1. An army officer ranking next to a lieutenant; formerly, an officer in certain regiments of the British Army, corresponding to the ensign in others.
1702–11. Milit. & Sea Dict. (ed. 4), I. Sub-Brigadier, Sub-Lieutenant, and the like, are Under-Officers appointed for the Ease of those over them of the same Denomination. Sub-Lieutenants of Foot take their Post at the Head of the Pikes.
1730. Bailey (folio), Sub-lieutenant, an Officer in Regiments of Fusileers, where there are no Ensigns.
1736. Milit. Hist. Pr. Eugene & Marlb., I. 111. A Sub-Lieutenant of the Grenadiers of Geschwind.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VII. vii. A patriotic Sub-lieutenant set a pistol to his ear.
2. An officer in the British Navy ranking next below a lieutenant. Formerly called mate.
1804. Naval Chron., XII. 510. A new Class of Officers, to be called Sub-Lieutenants, are to be appointed, selected from Midshipmen who have served their time.
1869. Times, 15 Oct., 7/2. That every midshipman or sub-lieutenant, on returning from his first long cruise, should pass not less than a year in a place of naval study.
1898. Kipling, Fleet in Being, ii. By the time he has reached his majority a Sub-Lieutenant should have seen enough to sober Ulysses.
Hence Sub-lieutenancy, the position or rank of a sub-lieutenant.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. II. ii. To such height of Sublieutenancy has he now got promoted, from Brienne School.
1893. F. F. Moore, I Forbid Banns, liv. Charlie Barham passed a creditable examination for a sub-lieutenancy.
