cavalry

[kav-uhl-ree]

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.

cavalry

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• cavalryman noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavalry¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavalry¹

C16: from French cavallerie, from Italian cavalleria, from cavaliere horseman; see _cavalier

Example Sentences

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

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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.

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The Lakota leader Sitting Bull defeated George Custer’s cavalry, but a sustained conflict with American forces proved ruinous.

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The soldier wears a fur pelisse and holds a cymbal, which meant he was very likely to have belonged to a cavalry regiment, Ms Lavelle said.

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“We’re building these bridges to allow the cavalry to come up with the transmission or other pieces of the puzzle that they may need to provide power.”

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Related Words

• squadron