Editing Feldwebel (section)

{{Short description|Non-commissioned officer rank}}
{{Italic title}}
'''''{{Lang|de|Feldwebel}} ''''' ('''Fw''' or '''F''', {{literally|field usher}}) is a [[non-commissioned officer]] (NCO) rank in several countries. The rank originated in Germany, and is also used in Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia. The rank has also been used in Russia, Austria-Hungary, occupied Serbia and Bulgaria.

''{{Lang|de|Feldwebel}}'' is a contraction of {{lang|de|Feld}} meaning 'field' and {{lang|de|Weibel}}, an archaic word meaning 'usher'. {{lang|de|Weibel}} comes from the [[Old High German]] {{lang|de|weibôn}}, meaning to go back and forth (as in 'wobble').

There are variations on {{Lang|de|Feldwebel}}, such as ''[[Oberstabsfeldwebel]]'' ('Superior Staff Field Usher'), which is the highest non-commissioned rank in the German army and air force.