household troops

American  

plural noun

1. troops guarding or attending a sovereign or a sovereign's residence.

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household troops British  

plural noun

1. the infantry and cavalry regiments that carry out escort and guard duties for a head of state

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Etymology

Origin of household troops

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

household troops

In a recent book called Twentieth Century Socialism, the "household troops" made some startling admissions.

From Time Magazine Archive

She declared that her position as a sovereign demanded a body of household troops.

From Superwomen by Terhune, Albert Payson

The household troops of every nation are select men, and the most showy which the country can supply.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 56, No. 345, July, 1844 by Various

In addition, the men from Stegea wore plumes that showed they were the "household troops" of Umzulek.

From Adventures in Swaziland The Story of a South African Boer by O'Neil, Owen Rowe

The "auxiliaries" have frequently consisted of soldiers selected from the household troops.

From A Book of the Play Studies and Illustrations of Histrionic Story, Life, and Character by Cook, Dutton