Wiktionary
n. (plural of ranker English)
Wikipedia
Rankers are soils developed over non- calcareous material, usually rock. They are regarded in some soil classifications as lithomorphic soils, a group which also includes rendzinas, similar soils over calcareous material. They are often called A/C soils, as the topsoil or A horizon is immediately over a C horizon (unaltered parent material).
Usage examples of "rankers".
Pompeius Rufus walked wherever he liked, finding himself greeted by everyone from centurions to rankers in a most friendly manner.
The rankers, as she had promised, arrived in Antioch, where I have put them back under stern Roman military discipline.
The rankers got sent back to Antioch and the ringleaders were executed.
And in close second place, it was a chance for me to show the rankers that their general sees justice done as justice should be done, no favoritism for members of the family.
While the Fimbriani roistered their way through winter in Tigranocerta, Publius Clodius whispered in the ears of their centurions, and their centurions whispered in the ears of the rankers, and the rankers whispered in the ears of the Galatian troopers.
So I issued orders that no one was to offend them religiously, from the rankers all the way up to my senior legates.
A moment later doors slid aside and Alpha-Bureaucrat Stemp rushed out along with Alpha Chin and Supervisor Bear, flanked by senior peaceguardian brass and some of the biggest rankers Floyt had ever seen.
I become very testy when rankers and junior tribunes think they are entitled to a say-but more of that anon.