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cavalry

[ kav-uhl-ree ]
/ ˈkæv əl ri /
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noun, plural cav·al·ries.
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.
horsemen, horses, etc., collectively.
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Origin of cavalry

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cavalry

Calvary, cavalry
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cavalry in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cavalry

cavalry
/ (ˈkævəlrɪ) /

noun plural -ries
(esp formerly) the part of an army composed of mounted troops
the armoured element of a modern army
(as modifier)a cavalry unit; a cavalry charge

Derived forms of cavalry

cavalryman, noun

Word Origin for cavalry

C16: from French cavallerie, from Italian cavalleria, from cavaliere horseman; see cavalier
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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