janizary


jan·is·sar·y

J0015500 (jăn′ĭ-sĕr′ē) also jan·i·zar·y (-zĕr′ē)n. pl. jan·is·sar·ies 1. A soldier of the Ottoman Empire in an elite guard organized in the 1300s and abolished in 1826.2. A member of a group of elite, highly loyal supporters.
[Middle French jehanicere, janissaire, from Old Italian giannizero, from Ottoman Turkish yeñiçeri, new army, Janissary corps : yañı, new (from Old Turkic yaŋı) + çeri, special troops (from Old Turkic çērig, phalanx, order of battle).]