bersagliere

[ ber-suhl-yair-ee; Italian ber-sah-lye-re ]

noun

, plural ber·sa·glie·ri [ber-s, uh, l-, yair, -ee, be, r, -sah-, lye, -, r, ee].

1. one of a class of riflemen or sharpshooters in the Italian army.

bersagliere

/ ˌbɛəsɑːˈljɛərɪ /

noun

1. a member of a rifle regiment in the Italian Army

Word History and Origins

Origin of bersagliere¹

1860–65; < Italian: literally, marksman, equivalent to bersagl ( io ) target (< Old French bersail; bers ( er ) to hunt (perhaps < Germanic; compare Middle High German birsen, German birschen, pirschen to hunt) + -ail noun suffix) + -iere -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of bersagliere¹

C19: from Italian, from bersaglio target, from Old French bersail , from berser to fire at

Example Sentences

Loud voices are singing the Bersagliere hymn as a duet under my window.

From Project Gutenberg

A Bersagliere prisoner who recognised the King, at a sign from him gave the required testimony, and he was allowed to pass.

From Project Gutenberg

An Austrian corporal fell, mortally wounded by a Bersagliere whom he conjured, in Italian, to listen to what he had got to say.

From Project Gutenberg

A newsboy was calling out the Fanfulla and the Bersagliere for sale.

From Project Gutenberg