Serjeant-at-arms

A serjeant-at-arms or sergeant-at-arms is an officer appointed by a deliberative body, usually a legislature, to keep order during its meetings. The word "serjeant" is derived from the Latin serviens, which means "servant".

In the Middle Ages, the serjeants-at-arms were bodies of armed men retained by the French and English monarchs: the ceremonial maces with which they are associated were originally a type of weapon. Serjeants-at-arms continue to serve a ceremonial role in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom; as such they represent the oldest royal bodyguard in England.