parade rest: Meaning and Definition of

parade' rest'

Pronunciation: [key]
— Mil. Mil.
  1. a position assumed by a soldier or sailor in which the feet are 12 in. (30.48 cm) apart, the hands are clasped behind the back, and the head is held motionless and facing forward.
  2. a command to assume this position.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.