regiment

Reg"i*ment (-ment), n. Etym: [F. régiment a regiment of men, OF. also government, L. regimentum government, fr. regere to guide, rule. See Regimen.] 1. Government; mode of ruling; rule; authority; regimen. [Obs.] Spenser. "Regiment of health." Bacon. But what are kings, when regiment is gone, But perfect shadows in a sunshine day Marlowe. The law of nature doth now require of necessity some kind of regiment. Hocker. 2. A region or district governed. [Obs.] Spenser. 3. (Mil.) Defn: A body of men, either horse, foot, or artillery, commanded by a colonel, and consisting of a number of companies, usually ten. Note: In the British army all the artillery are included in one regiment, which (reversing the usual practice) is divided into brigades. Regiment of the line (Mil.), a regiment organized for general service; -- in distinction from those (as the Life Guards) whose duties are usually special. [Eng.] Reg"i*ment (-mnt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Regimented; p. pr. & vb. n. Regimenting.] Defn: To form into a regiment or into regiments. Washington.

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