In many of the world's military establishments, a
brevet ( or ) was a
warrant giving a
commissioned officer a higher
rank title as a reward for gallantry or meritorious conduct, but without receiving the authority, precedence, or pay of real rank. An officer so promoted was referred to as being
brevetted (for example, "
he was brevetted major general"). The promotion would be noted in the officer's title (e.g. "
Bvt. Maj. Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain" or "
Bvt. Col. Arthur MacArthur").