cavalry
/ˈkav(ə)lri
/noun (plural cavalries) [usually treated as plural]
1(In the past) soldiers who fought on horseback: the cavalry charged up the hill the army numbered around 100,000 cavalry...
- His army's main power was based on his cavalry - horse borne soldiers.
- William's plan was to use the archers first to send their arrows into the English ranks, followed by the infantry in hand-to-hand combat and to finally advance with the cavalry who had the height and power of being on horseback.
- In previous wars, horsed cavalry had performed such a role, but cavalry were generally of little use in the trenches of the Western Front.
Synonyms
mounted troops, cavalrymen, horse soldiers, troopers, horse;
dragoons, lancers, hussars, carabineers, cuirassiers, sabreurs
1.1Modern soldiers who fight in armoured vehicles: [as modifier]: a cavalry regiment...
- How much force structure (in armored cavalry squadrons and regiments) do we have dedicated to reconnaissance and surveillance?
- Several armored cavalry regiments (brigade equivalents) could be kept as independent units.
- A regimental cavalry troop has two tank platoons, two scout platoons, and a heavy mortar section.
Derivatives
cavalryman
/ noun (plural cavalrymen) ...- Every ten farmsteads were supposed to provide for a fully equipped soldier, including a horse if he was a cavalryman or dragoon.
- In a commander's conference in 1957, he noted that some believed the airmen to be as wedded to the airplane as the cavalrymen was to the horse.
- Along the route, military detachments, including cavalrymen from the Queen's Life Guards, will give royal salutes and there will be a guard of honour in Parliament Square.
Origin
Mid 16th century: from French cavallerie, from Italian cavalleria, from cavallo 'horse', from Latin caballus.