Rogues' March
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The tune played when an undesirable soldier is drummed put of his regiment; hence, an ignominious dismissal.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Rogues' March” mean?
The tune played when an undesirable soldier is drummed put of his regiment; hence, an ignominious dismissal.
Is “Rogues' March” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.