janissary

American  

[jan-uh-ser-ee] / ˈdʒæn əˌsɛr i /

Also janizary

noun

PLURAL

janissaries

1. (often initial capital letter)  a member of an elite military unit of the Turkish army organized in the 14th century and abolished in 1826 after it revolted against the Sultan.

2. (often initial capital letter)  any soldier in the Turkish army.

3. a member of any group of loyal guards, soldiers, or supporters.

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janissary British  

/ ˈdʒænɪsərɪ, ˈdʒænɪzərɪ /

noun

1. an infantryman in the Turkish army, originally a member of the sovereign's personal guard, from the 14th to the early 19th century

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Etymology

Origin of janissary

1520–30; < French janissaire < Italian gian ( n ) izzero < Turkish yeniçeri, equivalent to yeni new + çeri soldiery, militia

Example Sentences

So Bovino and his janissaries posing in front of the Hollywood sign comes off like a hunter posing in front of his killed prey or a taunting postcard to L.A.:

From Los Angeles Times

To him, Hunt was the janissary of a dead vernacular.

From Literature

Those working in Zildjian’s shop produced cymbals for the mehter — monumental ensembles with double reeds, horns, drums and other metallic percussion that belonged to the empire’s elite janissary military corps.

From New York Times

Even mature, erudite readers might have to pretend to know the meaning of janissary.

From The Guardian

Those dancing janissaries, and other musical spirits, need space to flourish.

From Washington Post