noun
cornet
A junior cavalry officer who traditionally carried the troop's flag.
The young cornet carried the cavalry troop's standard.
Etymology
French cornette named a cavalry flag or standard. The officer entrusted with carrying that flag took its name as a title, which became a junior cavalry rank.
More examples
- His first commission was as a cornet.
- The cornet rode beside the senior officers.
- A portrait showed the cornet in cavalry uniform.
Forms
cornet · cornets
Similar words
- ensign
- An ensign was a comparable junior flag-bearing officer in infantry contexts; cornet was associated with cavalry.
- lieutenant
- Lieutenant is a different officer rank, generally above the historical cornet.