cavalry

[ kav-uhl-ree ]

noun

, plural cav·al·ries.

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 charge

   a cavalry unit

Derived Forms

• ˈcavalryman, 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

As for the cadre of grooms into whose care the show’s 335 horses were entrusted, it too had been decimated, for during World War I, a horse cavalry was still a vital component of the forces.

From Time

Immune systems are like sentinels, patrolling the body for invaders and calling in the cavalry once a pathogen is detected.

From Science News

It’s a far cry from the government’s optimism in early December, when the arrival of vaccines was described as the “scientific cavalry” coming to the rescue.

From Fortune

The Army has museums dedicated to the infantry, the cavalry and the artillery.

From Washington Post

Because Forrest enlisted as a private and fought in the often-neglected western theater, his skills as a cavalry commander were overlooked for much of the war.

From Time

A newsagent further down on Nathan Road  told The Daily Beast that he recognized a number of retired cops in the cavalry charge.

From The Daily Beast

A similar pattern occurred when metal swords, armor, cavalry charges and dense infantry ranks developed.

From The Daily Beast

He fought with the Soviets, then led the cavalry and B-52 bombers to rout the Taliban.

From The Daily Beast

Dostum famously led Uzbek cavalry charges supported by U.S. B-52 bombers to defeat the Taliban.

From The Daily Beast

They rode as far as Tours on the Loire until stopped by the French cavalry of Charles Martel.

From The Daily Beast

In this position, the line of cavalry formed the chord of the arc described by the river, and occupied by us.

From Project Gutenberg

Fanning and Wharton were to make head against the infantry and cavalry.

From Project Gutenberg

But the cavalry officer melted imperceptibly out of her existence.

From Project Gutenberg

They found a few belated sowars of the 3d Cavalry, who took refuge in a wood, and the artillery opened fire at the trees!

From Project Gutenberg

Infantry and cavalry approached the island, quite unsuspicious of its being occupied.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• squadron