chief petty officer

noun

, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

a noncommissioned rank above petty officer first class and below senior petty officer. : CPO, C.P.O., c.p.o.

chief petty officer

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

A chief petty officer is not the highest rating of the enlisted service.

Two were Coast Guardsmen, one a lieutenant and the other a chief petty officer.

"In that case I ask your pardon," replied the coastguard, whose badges proclaimed him to be a chief petty officer.

We had barely finished when the chief petty officer came up and examined the clews.

Chief Petty Officer Munro returned thanks on behalf of his comrades, and said that the reception had been quite unexpected.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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