cavalry

Cavalry — Cav al*ry, n. [F. cavalerie, fr. It. cavalleria. See {Cavalier}, and cf. {chivalry}.] (Mil.) That part of military force which serves on horseback. [1913 Webster] Note: {Heavy cavalry} and {light cavalry} are so distinguished by the character of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

cavalry — 1540s, from M.Fr. cavalerie (16c.), from It. cavalleria mounted militia, from cavaliere (see CAVALIER (Cf. cavalier)). An O.E. word for it was horshere …   Etymology dictionary

cavalry — [n] troops riding horses army, bowlegs*, chasseurs, cuirassiers, dragoons, horse, horse soldiers, hussars, lancers, mounted troops, Mounties, rangers, squadron, uhlans; concept 322 …   New thesaurus

cavalry — ► NOUN (pl. cavalries) (usu. treated as pl. ) ▪ soldiers who fight on horses or in armoured vehicles. DERIVATIVES cavalryman noun. ORIGIN Italian cavalleria, from cavallo horse …   English terms dictionary

cavalry — [kav′əl rē] n. pl. cavalries [Fr cavalerie < It cavalleria < cavaliere: see CAVALIER] combat troops mounted originally on horses but now often riding in motorized armored vehicles cavalryman [kav′əl rēmən] n. cavalrymen [kav′əl rēmən] …   English World dictionary

Cavalry — Cavalrymen redirects here. For the 1955 French film, see Les Hussards. French 4th Hussar at the battle of Friedland, 1807 …   Wikipedia

cavalry — /kav euhl ree/, n., pl. cavalries. 1. Mil. a. the part of a military force composed of troops that serve on horseback. b. mounted soldiers collectively. c. the motorized, armored units of a military force organized for maximum mobility. 2.… …   Universalium

cavalry — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. horse soldiers, horsemen, dragoons, hussars; armored or mechanized cavalry. See combatant. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. hussars, dragoons, rangers, light cavalry, heavy cavalry, air cavalry, Cossacks,… …   English dictionary for students

cavalry — [[t]kæ̱v(ə)lri[/t]] 1) N SING The cavalry is the part of an army that uses armoured vehicles for fighting. The Cavalry were exercising on Salisbury Plain. ...the US Army s 1st Cavalry Division. 2) N SING The cavalry is the group of soldiers in an …   English dictionary

cavalry — n. 1) to commit cavalry 2) heavy; light cavalry * * * [ kæv(ə)lrɪ] light cavalry heavy to commit cavalry …   Combinatory dictionary

cavalry — cav|al|ry [ kævəlri ] noun uncount in the past, the part of an army consisting of soldiers who rode horses a. used in the names of some groups in modern armies: the Queen s Household Cavalry the cavalry HUMOROUS people who come and solve all your …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English