countersign 的詞源

"一種軍事口令，是給予站崗士兵的信號，命令他不允許任何人通過，除非先給出那個信號"，1590年代，來自法語 contresigne，源自 contre- "反對"（見 contra-) + signe "標誌"（見 sign（n.））。

COUNTERSIGN. A watchword used by military bodies as a precaution against an enemy or enemies. The countersign may be changed at any moment, or any number of times, but is usually altered each twenty-four hours. It is given primarily to commanders of guards, and outposts and their sentries, to reconnoitring and visiting patrols, and to the field and regimental officer of the day. All others desiring to pass through the lines must first be supplied with the countersign, which is thus a guard against spies, strangers, and surprise. ["New International Encyclopaedia," 1906]

口令。軍隊使用的警戒口令，以防敵人。口令可以隨時更改，或更改任意次數，但通常每24小時更改一次。它首先給予警衛和哨兵的指揮官，偵察和訪問巡邏隊，以及現場和團隊的當值軍官。所有其他希望通過防線的人必須首先獲得口令，這樣就可以防止間諜，陌生人和突襲。["新國際百科全書"，1906]

也可以 counter-sign，意爲“在另一簽名的對面簽名，另外簽名”，起源於1690年代的法語 contresigner（15世紀）。參見 counter- 和 sign（v.）。相關詞彙： Countersigned; countersignature。