Man-at-arms

The term "man at arms" is used to describe professional soldiers of social standing less than a knight but above that of a levied man. They were generally part of the retinue of a lord or knight.

Man at Arms in the SCA

Man-at-arms is a term used in some SCA kingdoms and households to indicate a student of a squire (the relationship is similar to that between a squire and a knight, but taken down a step). In other kingdoms, knights may take a man-at-arms directly, often as a preliminary stage before squirehood. They are frequently identified by blue or black belts with their teacher's device on the end. The term can describe a student of either gender.