parade rest

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Parade \Pa*rade"\, n. [F., fr. Sp. parada a halt or stopping, an assembling for exercise, a place where troops are assembled to exercise, fr. parar to stop, to prepare. See Pare, v. t.]

1.The ground where a military display is held, or where troops are drilled. Also called parade ground. [1913 Webster]

2.(Mil.) An assembly and orderly arrangement or display of troops, in full equipments, for inspection or evolutions before some superior officer; a review of troops. Parades are general, regimental, or private (troop, battery, or company), according to the force assembled. [1913 Webster]

3.Hence: Any imposing procession; the movement of any group of people marshaled in military order, especially a festive public procession, which may include a marching band, persons in varied costume, vehicles with elaborate displays, and other forms of entertainment, held in commemoration or celebration of an event or in honor of a person or persons; as, a parade of firemen; a Thanksgiving Day parade; a Memorial Day parade; a ticker-tape parade. [PJC]

In state returned the grand parade.— Swift.[1913 Webster]

4.Hence: A pompous show; a formal or ostentatious display or exhibition. [1913 Webster]

Be rich, but of your wealth make no parade.— Swift.[1913 Webster]

5.Posture of defense; guard. [A Gallicism.] [1913 Webster]

When they are not in parade, and upon their guard.— Locke.[1913 Webster]

6.A public walk; a promenade. [1913 Webster]

Dress parade, Undress parade. See under Dress, and Undress.

Parade rest, a position of rest for soldiers, in which, however, they are required to be silent and motionless. --Wilhelm. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Ostentation; display; show.

Usage: Parade, Ostentation. Parade is a pompous exhibition of things for the purpose of display; ostentation now generally indicates a parade of virtues or other qualities for which one expects to be honored. "It was not in the mere parade of royalty that the Mexican potentates exhibited their power." --Robertson. "We are dazzled with the splendor of titles, the ostentation of learning, and the noise of victories." --Spectator. [1913 Webster]