bre·vet 
(brə-vĕt, brĕvĭt)
(brə-vĕt, brĕvĭt)n.
A commission promoting a military officer in rank without an increase in pay.
tr.v. bre·vet·ted, bre·vet·ting, bre·vets also bre·vet·ed or bre·vet·ing
To promote by brevet.
[Middle English, official letter, from Anglo-Norman, diminutive of bref, letter, from Latin brevis, short; see BRIEF.]
bre·vetcy (brə-vĕtsē) n.