cavalry
noun
cav·al·ry ˈka-vəl-rē 
nonstandard
ˈkal-və-rē plural cavalries
1
a
: an army component mounted on horseback
b
: an army component moving in motor vehicles or helicopters and assigned to combat missions that require great mobility
2
: horsemen
a thousand cavalry in flight
Example Sentences
Cavalry is used to perform reconnaissance. The cavalry were brought in to support the mission.
Recent Examples on the Web Massed infantry and cavalry charges became mass slaughter. 
Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 The famous campaign is thrilling, with its retreats, carnage and cavalry attacks as darkness descends. Sara Wheeler, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Activities will include a dress parade, cavalry and artillery demonstrations, and battle re-enactments. cleveland, 5 Aug. 2022 But the cavalry is coming with Republicans announcing a $28 million commitment to Vance this week. ABC News, 21 Aug. 2022 Even knowing that, however, the medical system is set up for the cavalry to come in with expensive medications and high-tech interventions, instead of providing equitable access and incentives for preventative care. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, 31 July 2022 As Mark Duplass has said, the cavalry is not coming for you. Quora, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Vision, who joined the Army in 2019, was a cavalry scout with Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, U.S. Army Alaska said. Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2022 The land on which the Schindler House sits was acquired in part from a judge and real estate developer who had served in the Confederate cavalry during the Civil War and regularly hosted events for the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2022 See More
Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 The famous campaign is thrilling, with its retreats, carnage and cavalry attacks as darkness descends. Sara Wheeler, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Activities will include a dress parade, cavalry and artillery demonstrations, and battle re-enactments. cleveland, 5 Aug. 2022 But the cavalry is coming with Republicans announcing a $28 million commitment to Vance this week. ABC News, 21 Aug. 2022 Even knowing that, however, the medical system is set up for the cavalry to come in with expensive medications and high-tech interventions, instead of providing equitable access and incentives for preventative care. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, 31 July 2022 As Mark Duplass has said, the cavalry is not coming for you. Quora, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Vision, who joined the Army in 2019, was a cavalry scout with Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, U.S. Army Alaska said. Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2022 The land on which the Schindler House sits was acquired in part from a judge and real estate developer who had served in the Confederate cavalry during the Civil War and regularly hosted events for the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
earlier cavallerie, borrowed from Middle French cavalerie, borrowed from Italian cavalleria, earlier cavalaria "group of soldiers on horseback, branch of arms made up of such soldiers," from cavalliere, cavaliere "horseback rider, mounted soldier" + -eria, borrowed from Middle French -erie -ery — more at cavalier entry 2
First Known Use
1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing cavalry
Kids Definition
cavalry
noun
cav·al·ry ˈka-vəl-rē
plural cavalries
: a unit of troops mounted on horseback or moving in motor vehicles