of the Army (Host)) was introduced into the ranks of the Imperial military in 1826, as the equivalent of a "Lieutenant Colonel" in the Cossack cavalry. Soviet Union and Russian Federation The word gained its modern meaning in the Red Army, and is a hangover from the functional titles (like "Brigade Commander" or "Assistant Platoon Leader") that were initially used by that force – the word literally means "senior". Most functional titles in the Red Army were abolished in 1942, but remained. was the highest non-commissioned rank in the Soviet Army until the reintroduction of the imperial rank of Praporshchik in 1972. In the Soviet Navy, the term was introduced between 1940 and 1943 as term equivalent to "Petty Officer" for every enlisted seaman above "Matros, 1st class." There was also created a rank equal to in the Army, but termed () – this is the naval rank depicted in the tables below. Insignia in the Red Army (1919–1946) and Soviet Armed Forces (1946–1991) Insignia in the Russian Federation Insignia Language variants In some former communist state, the rank of "older" is used with the local language variants. Naval variants References Cossack starshyna at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine Military organization of Cossacks Military ranks of Russia Military ranks of the Soviet Union Military ranks of Ukraine