parade rest

English

Marines standing at parade rest

Noun

parade rest (uncountable)

1. (US, military) A position of rest in which the feet are 12 inches apart and the hands clasped behind the back, or the left hand is behind the back and the right hand holds the rifle with its butt on the ground.
   • 1959, Kurt Vonnegut, chapter 4, in The Sirens of Titan‎^[1], New York: Dial, published 2006, page 98:

     […] no audible or visible order was given, but the ten thousand soldiers executed the movement of parade rest as a man.

   • 1989, John Irving, chapter 9, in A Prayer for Owen Meany‎^[2], New York: William Morrow, page 494:

     A stern, sawed-off soldier, whom Colonel Eiger had referred to as a master sergeant, whispered something to the honor guard, who stood at parade rest and glanced anxiously at Colonel Eiger […]

See also

• at ease