Chetnik

American  

[chet-neek, chet-nik] / tʃɛtˈnik, ˈtʃɛt nɪk /

noun

1. a member of a Serbian nationalist group that fought against the Turks in the early part of the 20th century and carried on guerrilla warfare during World War I and II.

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Chetnik British  

/ ˈtʃɛtnɪk, tʃɛtˈniːk /

noun

1. a Serbian nationalist belonging to a group that fought against the Turks before World War I and engaged in guerrilla warfare during both World Wars

2. a member of a Serbian nationalist paramilitary group fighting to retain Serbian influence in the countries which formerly constituted Yugoslavia

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Etymology

Origin of Chetnik

1905–10; < Serbo-Croatian čȅtnīk guerrilla, equivalent to čȅt ( a ) troop (cognate with Old Russian cheta, Czech četa ) + -nīk agent suffix ( cf. -nik)

Example Sentences

"I just happen to have had the traditional Chetnik title of Duke assigned to me."

From Time Magazine Archive

We overtook a file of gloomy, bedraggled German, Croat Ustashi and Chetnik prisoners with Partisan guards in front and a Partisan girl, a rifle across her shoulder, singing in the row of guards behind.

From Time Magazine Archive

Draja Mihailovich's fiery army of 145-150,000 former Yugoslav regulars, Serb Chetnik guerrillas, Croats, Slovenes, Jews, Bulgarian and Austrian deserters, has often been called a guerrilla force.

From Time Magazine Archive

Suddenly I saw a Chetnik standing in a group of German officers.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week Tito's Government triumphantly announced that they had captured the bushy-bearded, bespectacled Chetnik leader sitting in a mountain cave, guarded by only eleven soldiers of his once-powerful army.

From Time Magazine Archive