hussar
Americannoun
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(originally) one of a body of Hungarian light cavalry formed during the 15th century.
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a member of a class of similar troops, usually with striking or flamboyant uniforms, in European armies.
noun
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a member of any of various light cavalry regiments in European armies, renowned for their elegant dress
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( pl; cap when part of a name )
the Queen's own Hussars
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a Hungarian horseman of the 15th century
Etymology
Origin of hussar
1525–35; < Hungarian huszár < Serbo-Croatian hȕsār brigand, pirate < Medieval Latin cursārius corsair
Explanation
A hussar is a member of a lightly armored cavalry in Europe known for their elegant uniforms. Originally, the hussars were Hungarian cavalrymen in the 15th century, but other Europeans thought they were super cool and began to wear fancy uniforms and ride horses, too. Since then, the term has been used for any kind of horsemen that resembled the original. The word hussar comes from a Serbian variant of the word pirate. Hussars don’t steal, but like pirates, they have awesome outfits.
Vocabulary lists containing hussar
Anna Karenina
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"Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt" by Nikolai Gogol
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Thus Ashley devotes a chapter to the tall-tale-like exploits of Brigadier Gerard, a vainglorious but lovable Napoleonic hussar.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 8, 2016
And in shocking breach of Elysée protocol, which at the time banned trousers for women as evening wear, Bardot arrived dressed as a Napoleonic hussar.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 20, 2014
The villagers took to arms and appointed as their captain Shmuel Schiff, a wiry youth with a hussar mustache.
From Time Magazine Archive
At Melikhovo, Chekhov was a lavish host, dressed up as a hussar to amuse his guests, flirted with his sister's pretty friend "Lika" Mizinova.
From Time Magazine Archive
"I know not whether I shall dream when a hussar, but I know that I shall dream of you earlier, and of wings also."
From On the Field of Glory An Historical Novel of the Time of King John Sobieski by Henryk Sienkiewicz
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
