'Etat Major \['E]`tat" Ma`jor"\ [F., fr. ['e]tat state + L. major greater.]

(Mil.) The staff of an army, including all officers above the rank of colonel, also, all adjutants, inspectors, quartermasters, commissaries, engineers, ordnance officers, paymasters, physicians, signal officers, judge advocates; also, the noncommissioned assistants of the above officers.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)