commandant-general, noun

Forms:
Also with initial capitals.
Origin:
DutchShow more Translation of Dutch commandant generaal, kommandant generaal.
historical
1. The commander-in-chief of a number of commandos of the defence forces of the Boer republics; also used as a title. See also commando sense 4.
1877 F. Jeppe Tvl Bk Almanac & Dir. (1976) 36A commandant-General is chosen by the whole laager.
1880 G.F. Austen Diary (1981) 6They were acting under the orders of the Commandant General, PA Cronje.
1893 J.F. Ingram Story of Gold Concession 236He..was..appointed commandant-general of the then struggling and almost penniless republic.
1899 Volkstem 12 Oct. 1Commandant-General Joubert left camp last night with his forces.
1900 H.C. Hillegas Oom Paul’s People 51A single republic, with Marthinus Wessel Pretorius as President, and Paul Kruger as commandant-general of the army.
a1930 G. Baumann in Baumann & Bright Lost Republic (1940) 162The proposals were..to allow new citizens, like old citizens, to vote for a State President and Commandant General.
1946 S. Cloete Afr. Portraits 48In 1852, he was made a full field cornet and accompanied the old Commandant-General Pretorius to the Sand River.
1974 K. Griffith Thank God We Kept Flag Flying 30Joubert, the Transvaal commandant-general, had crossed the northern Natal border with his army on 12 October 1899.
1989 Reader’s Digest Illust. Hist. of S. Afr. 245This dependence on part-time soldiers extended all the way to the top — and only the SAR had a full-time professional soldier, and elected Commandant-General.
2. The commander-in-chief of the defence forces of the Union of South Africa, and subsequently of the Republic of South Africa.
Note:
Now called ‘Chief of the Defence Force’.
1915 J.K. O’Connor Afrikander Rebellion 66He was appointed to a non-political position, that of Commandant-General of the Defence Force.
1933 W.H.S. Bell Bygone Days 333General Christian Frederick Beyers was Commandant-General of the Union Defence Force.
1971 Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. III. 614The designation of the more senior posts have..undergone a complete change...The old title of Commandant-General was reinstated and superseded that of Chief of the General Staff.
1971 Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. III. 617The Commandant-General of the South African Defence Force is, since 17 Oct. 1966, simultaneously the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Republic of South Africa and the chief accounting officer of the Department of Defence.
1977 Joint Operational Dict. 95Commandant-general, Former post designation of the General Officer (General) who was Chief of the SADF. Present title Chief of the Defence Force.
The commander-in-chief of a number of commandos of the defence forces of the Boer republics; also used as a title.
The commander-in-chief of the defence forces of the Union of South Africa, and subsequently of the Republic of South Africa.
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historical
commandant, nounn.commandeer, verbv.
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