(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.
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 […]