Definition

Noun: 1. A soldier assigned as a personal servant to a commissioned officer: In the British and some other Commonwealth armed forces, a batman is an orderly or officer's servant responsible for personal and domestic duties. 2. An officer's attendant: A non-commissioned officer or private soldier detailed to attend to a superior officer's needs, such as caring for uniforms, equipment, and personal quarters.

Usage

The word is used primarily in a historical or traditional military context. - The captain's batman polished his boots and laid out his uniform. - In the old regiment, every major was assigned a batman.

Advanced Usage

• The role of a batman was common in armies before the late 20th century and is now largely obsolete in modern military structures.
• The term can sometimes be used figuratively to describe a personal attendant or loyal aide in a non-military context, though this is rare and stylized.
  • He acted as her unofficial batman, managing her schedule and correspondence.

Variants and Related Words

• Batmen: The standard plural form.
  • The batmen gathered the officers' kits.

Synonyms

• Orderly: A soldier assigned to perform chores or carry orders.
• Attendant: A person employed to provide a service to another.
• Servant: A person who performs duties for others.

Notes

• The word "batman" in this context is unrelated to the comic book superhero "Batman." They are homographs (words spelled the same) with completely different origins and meanings.
• This term is specific to certain military traditions and is not used in contemporary general English outside of historical discussion.

Noun

1. an orderly assigned to serve a British military officer