infantry
[in-fuh n-tree]
- soldiers or military units that fight on foot, in modern times typically with rifles, machine guns, grenades, mortars, etc., as weapons.
- a branch of an army composed of such soldiers.
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Origin of infantry
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for infantry
Contemporary Examples
In Vietnam, Lewis was advisor to a Vietnamese infantry unit, whose nickname for him was “Captain of Many Kilos.”
In the west at Utah Beach the U.S. Fourth Infantry Division encountered almost none, lost 12 men killed in the first 24 hours.
Being there with a company of American infantry was dangerous enough; going there on your own seemed like straight-up suicide.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban ValleyMatt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman
November 15, 2014
Stasio would join the Fourth Brigade, Second Infantry Division, “the Raiders,” and deploy to Iraq.
The patriarch, Josiah, had fought with the 42nd Wisconsin Infantry, marching all the way to Kentucky to battle the Confederates.
Historical Examples
Tarleton advanced, with his infantry in the centre, and his cavalry on the wings.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis MarionWilliam Dobein James
At the bridge they met the British infantry, who gave them a volley.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis MarionWilliam Dobein James
Washington's horse and Kirkwood's infantry formed the reserve.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis MarionWilliam Dobein James
The infantry in advancing could only attack on a front of 600 yards.
The Story of the Malakand Field ForceSir Winston S. Churchill
There are her companies of infantry in a sort of port there.
American NotesRudyard Kipling
infantry
- soldiers or units of soldiers who fight on foot with small arms
- (as modifier)an infantry unit
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Word Origin
C16: from Italian infanteria, from infante boy, foot soldier; see infant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for infantry
n.
1570s, from French infantrie, from older Italian, Spanish infanteria "foot soldiers, force composed of those too inexperienced or low in rank for cavalry," from infante "foot soldier," originally "a youth," from Latin infantem (see infant). Meaning "infants collectively" is recorded from 1610s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper