Chetnik

[chet-neek, chet-nik]

noun

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.

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)

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

British Dictionary definitions for chetnik

Chetnik

noun

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

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

Word Origin for Chetnik

from Serbian četnik, from četa troop

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 chetnik

"member of a Balkan guerrilla force," 1904, from Serbian četnik, from četa "band, troop."