buck private
noun
plural buck privates
US, informal
: a private in the U.S. Army or Marines
—used to stress that a private has the lowest rank in the military
Born in 1921, [author James] Jones turned to writing after an unhappy childhood and a checkered career in World War II, during which he was twice decorated for bravery but also twice demoted to buck private.—
Mark P. Parillo
Mark P. ParilloDictionary Entries Near buck private
Cite this Entry
“Buck private.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buck%20private. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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