cavalry

[ kav-uh l-ree ]

/ ˈkæv əl ri /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cavalry ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural cav·al·ries.

Military.

the part of a military force composed of troops that serve on horseback.
mounted soldiers collectively.
the motorized, armored units of a military force organized for maximum mobility.

horsemen, horses, etc., collectively.

Nearby words

cavalieri, cavalieri, francesco bonaventura, cavalla, cavalleria rusticana, cavallini, cavalry, cavalry twill, cavalryman, cavan, cavate, cavatelli

Origin of cavalry

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

Can be confusedCalvary cavalry

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cavalry

A newsagent further down on Nathan Road told The Daily Beast that he recognized a number of retired cops in the cavalry charge.
Hong Kong’s Triads Attack Protestors|Ben Leung|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A similar pattern occurred when metal swords, armor, cavalry charges and dense infantry ranks developed.
War! What Is It Good For? A Lot|Nick Romeo|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He fought with the Soviets, then led the cavalry and B-52 bombers to rout the Taliban.
The Warlord Who Defines Afghanistan: An Excerpt From Bruce Riedel’s ’What We Won’|Bruce Riedel|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dostum famously led Uzbek cavalry charges supported by U.S. B-52 bombers to defeat the Taliban.
The Warlord Who Defines Afghanistan: An Excerpt From Bruce Riedel’s ’What We Won’|Bruce Riedel|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They rode as far as Tours on the Loire until stopped by the French cavalry of Charles Martel.
Is This Hemingway’s Pamplona or a Lot of Bull?|Clive Irving|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To increase the efficiency of the cavalry extensive manœuvres were organised.
Sir John French|Cecil Chisholm
Infantry, cavalry and artillery crossed the creek and the ridges and formed in a solid line which nothing could resist.
The Scouts of Stonewall|Joseph A. Altsheler
A regiment of infantry and a battalion of cavalry were put on guard and patrolled the streets to reduce the riotous to order.
From Fort Henry to Corinth|Manning Ferguson Force
For his whole theory of cavalry tactics is based on the realisation that massive formations are now hopelessly out of date.
Sir John French|Cecil Chisholm
In this pursuit he took the lead at the head of a detachment of cavalry.
The Student's Life of Washington; Condensed from the Larger Work of Washington Irving|Washington Irving

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 Formscavalryman, 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

Word Origin and History for cavalry

cavalry

1540s, from Middle French cavalerie (16c.), from Italian cavalleria "mounted militia," from cavaliere (see cavalier (n.)). An Old English word for it was horshere.

cavalry

noun, plural cav·al·ries.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of cavalry

Examples from the Web for cavalry

British Dictionary definitions for cavalry

cavalry

noun plural -ries

Word Origin for cavalry

Word Origin and History for cavalry

cavalry