1. Military law. A commission promoting an officer to a higher rank, esp. during wartime, but without a corresponding pay increase. [Cases: Armed Services 8, 13.1(5). C.J.S. Armed Services § 26.]
2. French law. A privilege or warrant granted by the government to a private person, authorizing a special benefit or the exercise of an exclusive privilege. • For example, a brevet d’invention is a patent for an invention.
3. Patents. A patent. — Also termed (in sense 3) brevet d’invention.
