- rank and file
- rank and file 1590s, in reference to the horizontal and vertical lines of soldiers marching in formation; thence generalized to "common soldiers" (1796) and "common people" (1860).
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
rank and file
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rank and file — ˌrank and ˈfile noun the rank and file the ordinary members of a union, who are not union officials: • So far, leaders are maintaining discipline among the rank and file. rank and file adjective [only before a noun] : • rank and file union… … Financial and business terms
rank-and-file — ˌrank and ˈfile noun the rank and file the ordinary members of a union, who are not union officials: • So far, leaders are maintaining discipline among the rank and file. rank and file adjective [only before a noun] : • rank and file union… … Financial and business terms
rank and file — {n. phr.} Ordinary people; the regular membership of an organization; the enlisted privates in the Army. * /The general usually inspects the rank and file on specific national holidays./ * /The secretary of the association sends letters annually… … Dictionary of American idioms
rank and file — {n. phr.} Ordinary people; the regular membership of an organization; the enlisted privates in the Army. * /The general usually inspects the rank and file on specific national holidays./ * /The secretary of the association sends letters annually… … Dictionary of American idioms
Rank and file — File File (f[imac]l), n. [F. file row (cf. Pr., Sp., Pg., & It. fila), LL. fila, fr. L. filum a thread. Cf. {Enfilade}, {Filament}, {Fillet}.] 1. An orderly succession; a line; a row; as: (a) (Mil.) A row of soldiers ranged one behind another; in … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Rank and file — Rank Rank, n. [OE. renk, reng, OF. renc, F. rang, fr. OHG. hring a circle, a circular row, G. ring. See {Ring}, and cf. {Range}, n. & v.] 1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers. [1913 Webster] Many a mountain nigh… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Rank and File — Жанр альт кантри каупанк пост панк новая волна Годы 1981 1987 … Википедия
rank and file — n the rank and file the ordinary members of an organization rather than the leaders ▪ The rank and file of the party had lost confidence in the leadership. >rank and file adj [only before noun] ▪ the rank and file members of the trade union … Dictionary of contemporary English
rank-and-file — adjective rank and file members of the party Thesaurus: general words used to describe rank and statushyponym from an upper class familysynonym Main entry: rank and file … Useful english dictionary
rank´-and-file´ — rank and file, 1. a) common soldiers, not officers, especially those with the rank of corporal or below; ranks. b) the people in a business, labor union, political party, or other institution or group, who are not a part of the management. »Labor … Useful english dictionary
rank and file — rank′ and file′ n. 1) cvb the members of any organization, esp. a union, apart from its leaders or officers 2) cvb mil rank I, 6), a) • Etymology: 1590–1600 rank′ and file′, adj. rank′ and fil′er, n … From formal English to slang
