Parade rest

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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}.
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   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.
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   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.
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   4. Hence: A pompous show; a formal or ostentatious display or
      exhibition.
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            Be rich, but of your wealth make no parade. --Swift.
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   5. Posture of defense; guard. [A Gallicism.]
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            When they are not in parade, and upon their guard.
                                                  --Locke.
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   6. A public walk; a promenade.
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   {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.
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   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.
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