janissary

[ jan-uh-ser-ee ]

noun,plural jan·is·sar·ies.
  1. (often initial capital letter) a member of an elite military unit of the Turkish army organized in the 14th century and abolished in 1826 after it revolted against the Sultan.

  2. (often initial capital letter) any soldier in the Turkish army.

  1. a member of any group of loyal guards, soldiers, or supporters.

Origin of janissary

1
1520–30; <French janissaire<Italian gian(n)izzero<Turkish yeniçeri, equivalent to yeni new + çeri soldiery, militia
  • Also jan·i·zar·y [jan-uh-zer-ee]. /ˈdʒæn əˌzɛr i/.

Words Nearby janissary

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How to use janissary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for janissary

janissary

janizary (ˈdʒænɪzərɪ)

/ (ˈdʒænɪsərɪ) /


nounplural -saries or -zaries
  1. an infantryman in the Turkish army, originally a member of the sovereign's personal guard, from the 14th to the early 19th century

Origin of janissary

1
C16: from French janissaire, from Italian giannizzero, from Turkish yeniçeri, from yeni new + çeri soldiery

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