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

Bill Kilgore, the crazed cavalry commander in the 1979 Vietnam War film, “Apocalypse Now,” crouched in a black Stetson hat in front of a flaming Chicago skyline abuzz with black helicopters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Muncy is just the first member of a big cavalry riding to the Dodgers’ rescue in time for their playoff stretch drive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq as an armored cavalry officer.

Read more on Salon

Which is why the president called in the European cavalry for Independence Day: keen to make Moldova's path to EU membership as "irreversible" as she asserts.

Read more on BBC

Everybody wants good news on Daly, but if it's bad news there is a cavalry coming over the hill in the shape of Kinghorn and Keenan and a cast of others.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• squadron