janissary

Also jan·i·zar·y

[jan-uh-ser-ee]

noun

plural

janissaries 

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.

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

janissary

/ ˈdʒænɪsərɪ, ˈdʒænɪzərɪ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of janissary¹

1520–30; < French janissaire < Italian gian ( n ) izzero < Turkish yeniçeri, equivalent to yeni new + çeri soldiery, militia

Word History and Origins

Origin of janissary¹

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

Example Sentences

So Bovino and his janissaries posing in front of the Hollywood sign comes off like a hunter posing in front of his killed prey or a taunting postcard to L.A.:

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To him, Hunt was the janissary of a dead vernacular.

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Those working in Zildjian’s shop produced cymbals for the mehter — monumental ensembles with double reeds, horns, drums and other metallic percussion that belonged to the empire’s elite janissary military corps.

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Even mature, erudite readers might have to pretend to know the meaning of janissary.

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Those dancing janissaries, and other musical spirits, need space to flourish.

Read more on Washington Post