a. and sb.; also corruptly agitant. [ad. L. adjūtant-em pr. pple. of adjūtā-re to assist, freq. of adjuvā-re to assist; f. ad to + juvā-re to help. See -ANT.]
A. adj. Helping, auxiliary, assistant.
1676. Bullokar, Adjutant, helping.
1880. Burton, Q. Anne, II. ix. 58. With adjutant vessels and small craft there were upwards of a hundred and fifty sail.
B. sb.
1. An assistant or helper. Now rare in the general sense.
1622. R. Hawkins, Voy. to S. Sea (1847), 84. The pilot, or his adjutants, which are the same officers which in our shippes we terme the master and his mates.
1644. Bulwer, Chiron., 17. The Hands so surpassing in dignity all the other corporall adjutants of man’s wit.
a. 1733. North, Examen, III. vii. § 54. 542. These [petitions] were put into the Hands of Agitants and Sub-agitants in the Countries about.
1856. Kane, Arctic Explor., II. xix. 191. Taking with me Morton, my faithful adjutant always.
2. Mil. An officer in the army whose business it is to assist the superior officers by receiving and communicating orders, conducting correspondence, and the like.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXXVIII. xlvii. 1013. My ten adjutants [pr. adjacents] or suffraganes [legatis], whome our ancestors thought good to give unto their Generals in the war.
1622. Bacon, Jul. Cæs., Wks. 1860, 503. In great battles he would sit in his pavilion, and manage all by adjutants.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Adjutant is the same that we otherwise call Aid-Major.
1868. Regul. & Ord. Army, § 857. All guards are, previous to marching on duty, to be inspected and sized by the Adjutant.
3. Ornith. (Also adjutant-bird, -crane, -stork.) A gigantic species of stork (Ciconia Argala) native to India; so called from its stiff quasi-military gait when walking.
1798. Pennant, Hindostan, II. 156. The Argali or Adjutant, or Gigantic Crane of Latham.
1831. Tyerman & Bennet, Voy. & Trav., II. xlv. 343. The adjutant-crane is a privileged carrion-eater throughout India.
1857. S. Osborn, Quedah, ix. 110. The tall adjutant … a very king of fishing birds.
1880. Daily Tel., 28 Oct. The adjutant-bird and the black turkey buzzard.
