take on strength

English

Etymology

From take on (“enlist”) +‎ strength (“armed forces”).

Verb

take on strength (third-person singular simple present takes on strength, present participle taking on strength, simple past took on strength, past participle taken on strength)

1. (ambitransitive, Commonwealth, military, historical) To commission a soldier, animal or vehicle into the service of the armed forces.

   Antonym: strike off strength

   Alternative form: (past participle) TOS

   Taken on strength, 7th Light Horse, 6th April 1915.

   • 1964, G. W. L. Nicholson, The Fighting Newfoundlander, 2006 edition, page 521:

     To assist him in the task of organizing his unit, Lieutenant-Colonel O'Driscoll took on strength a nucleus of officers and N.C.O.'s who had served in the Newfoundland Militia or the Royal Artillery during the Second World War.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take on,‎ strength.

Usage notes

• The term is chiefly used in the past participle taken on strength in historical military records, to mark the start of military service.