parade ground

Parade Pa*rade", n. [F., fr. Sp. parada a halt or stopping, an assembling for exercise, a place where troops are assembled to exercise, fr. parar to stop, to prepare. See {Pare}, v. t.] 1. The ground where a military display is held, or where troops are drilled. Also called {parade ground}. [1913 Webster]

2. (Mil.) An assembly and orderly arrangement or display of troops, in full equipments, for inspection or evolutions before some superior officer; a review of troops. Parades are general, regimental, or private (troop, battery, or company), according to the force assembled. [1913 Webster]

3. Hence: Any imposing procession; the movement of any group of people marshaled in military order, especially a festive public procession, which may include a marching band, persons in varied costume, vehicles with elaborate displays, and other forms of entertainment, held in commemoration or celebration of an event or in honor of a person or persons; as, a parade of firemen; a Thanksgiving Day parade; a Memorial Day parade; a ticker-tape parade. [PJC]

In state returned the grand parade. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

4. Hence: A pompous show; a formal or ostentatious display or exhibition. [1913 Webster]

Be rich, but of your wealth make no parade. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

5. Posture of defense; guard. [A Gallicism.] [1913 Webster]

When they are not in parade, and upon their guard. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

6. A public walk; a promenade. [1913 Webster]

{Dress parade}, {Undress parade}. See under {Dress}, and {Undress}.

{Parade rest}, a position of rest for soldiers, in which, however, they are required to be silent and motionless. --Wilhelm. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Ostentation; display; show.

Usage: {Parade}, {Ostentation}. Parade is a pompous exhibition of things for the purpose of display; ostentation now generally indicates a parade of virtues or other qualities for which one expects to be honored. ``It was not in the mere parade of royalty that the Mexican potentates exhibited their power.'' --Robertson. ``We are dazzled with the splendor of titles, the ostentation of learning, and the noise of victories.'' --Spectator. [1913 Webster]