‘An officer above the rank of captain, and under that of general’ (Stocqueler).
1656. J. Harrington, Oceana, 127. A Vice-Admiral, a Polemarch, or Field-Officer shall be elected after the same manner, by the Scruteny of the Council of War.
1724. Lond. Gaz., No. 6310/2. All the Field Officers having the Honour of being admitted to his Table.
1804. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., III. 549. As the rule that a field officer shall not hold an office upon the staff is not a standing regulation of the service, under the government of Fort St. George.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., 138. One peak stood like a field-officer with his cap raised above his head.
Hence Field-officerism.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev. (1857), II. III. V. vi. 310. Spanish Field-officerism struck mute at such cat-o’-mountain spirit.
