cavalry

[kav-uh l-ree]

See more synonyms for cavalry on Thesaurus.com

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.

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. 2018

Related Words for cavalry

squadron, horse, army, lancers, bowlegs, dragoons

Examples from the Web for cavalry

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of cavalry

Tarleton advanced, with his infantry in the centre, and his cavalry on the wings.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James
Here they all dismounted, except a small body, which acted as cavalry.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James
He determined on the latter, and put his four troops of cavalry in motion.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James
The force of cavalry was but small, being conveyed in a single transport.
Stories from Thucydides
H. L. Havell
On the left the cavalry again demonstrated the power of their arm.
The Story of the Malakand Field Force
Sir Winston S. Churchill

British Dictionary definitions for cavalry

cavalry

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

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