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The Kitchen Table

Phrase of the day 1/11

jim_1 (Zone 5B)

5 years ago

Sergeant at arms

The word sergeant itself merely means “servant.” It comes from the French servire (to serve). But early in British history, shortly after the Norman Conquest, sergeant came to the term used for servants of nobility, especially of the king.

The sergeants in time assumed knightly rank bore arms and served as an armed bodyguard to the king. Their job was to arrest anyone who attempted any traitorous action. Later, each of the two houses of Parliament appointed a sergeant at arms to enforce the decrees of each house and arrest offenders. When our Senate and House of Representatives were first organized, similar posts were provided for. Though the sergeants’ arms are long gone, their authority remains.

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Comments (2)

chisue
5 years ago
Too bad the chief of the Capitol police refused to arm his men Wednesday, thus aiding and abetting criminal trespass by armed insurgents.
stacey_mb
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Sargeants at arms are armed in the Canadian Parliament Building. In 2014, an armed intruder was killed by an individual serving in this role: "House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers was lauded by members of Parliament Wednesday for his reported role in stopping an assailant who killed a Canadian Forces member in Ottawa." Just one of several expressions of gratitude: "MPs and Hill staff owe their safety, even lives, to Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers who shot attacker just outside the MPs' caucus
rooms." —New Democrat MP Craig Scott. From CBC web site. Edited for clarity.
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