What is "commissary of subsistence"

Commissary \Com"mis*sa*ry\, n.; pl. Commissaries. [LL. commissarius, fr. L. commissus, p. p. of committere to commit, intrust to. See Commit.]

1. One to whom is committed some charge, duty, or office, by a superior power; a commissioner.

   Great Destiny, the Commissary of God.
   --Donne.

2. (Eccl.) An officer of the bishop, who exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction in parts of the diocese at a distance from the residence of the bishop.
   --Ayliffe.

3. (Mil.)

   1. An officer having charge of a special service; as, the commissary of musters.

   2. An officer whose business is to provide food for a body of troops or a military post; -- officially called commissary of subsistence. [U. S.] Washington wrote to the President of Congress . . . urging the appointment of a commissary general, a quartermaster general, a commissary of musters, and a commissary of artillery. --W. Irving Commissary general, an officer in charge of some special department of army service; as:

      1. The officer in charge of the commissariat and transport department, or of the ordnance store department. [Eng.]

      2. The commissary general of subsistence. [U. S.]

         Commissary general of subsistence (Mil. U. S.), the head of the subsistence department, who has charge of the purchase and issue of provisions for the army.