cavalry

American  

[kav-uhl-ree] / ˈkæv əl ri /

noun

plural

cavalries

1. Military.

   1. the part of a military force composed of troops that serve on horseback.

   2. mounted soldiers collectively.

   3. the motorized, armored units of a military force organized for maximum mobility.

2. horsemen, horses, etc., collectively.

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cavalry British  

/ ˈkævəlrɪ /

noun

1. (esp formerly) the part of an army composed of mounted troops

2. the armoured element of a modern army

3. ( as modifier )

   a cavalry unit

   a cavalry charge

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Other Word Forms

• cavalryman noun

Etymology

Origin of cavalry

1585–95; syncopated variant of cavallery < Italian cavalleria, derivative of cavaliere cavalier

Example Sentences

It was defended by a mix of infantry, archers, and cavalry drawn from across the Roman Empire.

From Science Daily

“No way. School wins. Always. We’ve got this, and now your mom is on the case. The cavalry is on its way, as they say.”

From Literature

“If we don’t do anything, the cavalry is not coming.”

From The Wall Street Journal

When war came in April 1898, he accepted a commission in a volunteer cavalry regiment.

From The Wall Street Journal

But with Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, and other cavalry to come back into their side, too, Scotland will face the Haka next week with more confidence of a win than ever before.

From BBC

Related Words

• squadron