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by PrivateGomerSpooner on May 20th, 2009
It comes from the military. Any soldier above the 'rank' of sergeant is referred to as rank whereas any soldier below the 'rank' of sergeant is referred to as file.
by strange1 still in pb on May 20th, 2009
the way the troops are regimented
by Marky Mark on May 20th, 2009
Military. On a parade ground the MEN form into squads that have "ranks" and "files". MEN meaning the enlisted troops and not the officers. The term has come to mean the ordinary workers as opposed to management.
by 34th st. on May 20th, 2009
It has to be prison. Not even the military would use the word "rank"
by yahoot on September 15th, 2009
it has to do with military formations.
When soldiers were lined up, they stood in ranks (we now call them rows - front row, back row,), and in files (like columns this still survives in the idea of "single file").
The idea of a forming in ranks still survives - hence the admonishment "no talking in ranks" when a soldier speaks on parade.
Ranks were important because in the era of the musket, men would fire "by rank" The officer would command "front rank! aim, fire, reload second rank!aim, ..." that way he could command each row of men separately.
one of the most important drills was to get from file (marching column) to rank (ready to fight) very quickly.
If someone told you they were going to 'ride 'em like a horse' what would you assume they were going to do?
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Comments
thanks Spooner.
by keithold is a prodigal bagger on May 20th, 2009