REGIMENT (from

See also:

• LATE

Late Latin regimentum,

See also:

• RULE

rule, regere, to rule, govern,

See also:

• DIRECT

direct)  , originally government, command or authority exercised over others, or the office of a ruler or sovereign; in this sense the word was common in the 16th century . The most familiar instance is the title of the tract of John Knox, the First Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regiment of Women . The term as applied to a large body of troops dates from the French army of the 16th century . In the first instance it implied " command," as nowadays we speak of " General A's command," meaning the whole number of troops under his command . The early regiments had no similarity in strength or organization, except that each was under one commander . With the regularization of armies the commands of all such superior officers were gradually reduced to uniformity, and a regiment came to be definitely a colonel's command . In the British infantry the term has no tactical significance, as the number of battalions in a regiment is variable, and one at least is theoretically abroad at all times, while the reserve or territorial battalions serve under a different code to that governing the regular battalions . The whole corps of Royal Artillery is called " the Royal Regiment of Artillery." In the cavalry a regiment is tactically as well as administratively a unit of four squadrons . On the continent of Europe the regiment of infantry is always together under the command of its colonel, and consists of three or four battalions under majors or lieutenant-colonels .