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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Ramses and Menna were left with only a few picked chariots of the household troops, and the whole Hittite army was coming on.

From Peeps at Many Lands: Ancient Egypt by Baikie, Constance N.

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

At last the household troops, who had done such service at Steinkirk, were sent against this village; it was captured a third time, and this time it was held.

From William the Third by Traill, H. D. (Henry Duff)

And no soldiers did better service than the household troops of George Fox.

From Sketches of Reforms and Reformers, of Great Britain and Ireland by Stanton, Henry B.