SG Heritage Dictionary

Adjutant [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. In military affairs, an officer whose business is to assist the Major by receiving and communicating order. Each battalion of foot, and each regiment of horse has an adjutant who receives orders from the adjutant who receives orders from the Brigade Major, to communicate to the Colonel, and to subalterns. He places guards, receives and distributes ammunition, assigns places of rendezvous, etc.

2. Adjutant-General, in an army, is the chief adjutant

3. Adjutants General, among the Jesuits, were a select number of fathers, who resided with the general of the order, each of whom had a province or country assigned to his care. Their business was to correspond with that province, by their delegates, emissaries or visitors, and give information of occurrences to the father general.

Adjutant [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. A helper; an assistant.

2. A regimental staff officer, who assists the colonel, or commanding officer of a garrison or regiment, in the details of regimental and garrison duty.

3. A species of very large stork (Ciconia argala), a native of India; -- called also the gigantic crane, and by the native name argala. It is noted for its serpent-destroying habits.

Adjutant Encyclopedia Britannica

ADJUTANT, a military officer whose duty it is to assist the commanding officer of a regiment or battalion. Every battalion of infantry, regiment of cavalry, and brigade of artillery, has an adjutant, who keeps the regimental books, records, and correspondence; acts as the commanding officer’s representative in matters of regimental detail; superintends the drill of recruits; keeps the roster (i.e., register of order of service) for all duties; details the guards, piquets, detachments, &c., that are furnished by the regiment; and is responsible for the receipt of the daily divisional or brigade order from the superior staff-officer, and the preparation and issue of regimental orders. The Adjutant-General is the staff-officer specially charged with all matters relating to the discipline and drill of the army....

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 1, p. 154
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