condottiere
noun
con·dot·tie·re ˌkän-də-ˈtyer-ē 
ˌkän-ˌdä-tē-ˈer-
plural condottieri ˌkän-də-ˈtyer-ē
ˌkän-ˌdä-tē-ˈer-
1
: a leader of a band of mercenaries common in Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries
also : a member of such a band
2
: a mercenary soldier
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Italian condottiero, condottiere, from condotta "command, contract between the commander of a mercenary company and a prince or commune, company of mercenary soldiers" (noun derivative from feminine of condotto, past participle of condurre "to lead, direct," going back to Latin condūcere "to bring together, join, hire") + -iero, -iere, agent suffix (borrowed from Middle French -ier) -ier — more at conduce
Note: On the change of sense shown by the Romance descendants of Latin condūcere see note at conduce.
First Known Use
1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1
- knee breeches
- knee buckle
- knee colter
- knee drill
- knee drop
- knee mortar
- knee of head
- knee plate
- knee rafter
- knee roll
- knee roof
- knee sock
- knee strap
- knee timber
- knee tool
- knee wall
- knee-crooking
- knee-deep
- knee-halter
- knee-high
- knee-high blackberry
- knee-high to a grasshopper
- knee-jerk
- knee-jointed
- knee-length