janissary

[ jan-uh-ser-ee ]

/ ˈdʒæn əˌsɛr i /

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noun, plural jan·is·sar·ies.

(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.

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

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

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Also jan·i·zar·y

[jan-uh-zer-ee]. /ˈdʒæn əˌzɛr i/.

Origin of janissary

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

Words nearby janissary

Janiculum, Janie, janiform, Janina, Janine, janissary, Janissary music, janitor, janitress, Janjaweed, janky

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use janissary in a sentence

Before any purchases were made, however, the janissary moved on, and Foster had to follow.
The Middy and the Moors|R.M. Ballantyne
About two hours later the door was again opened, and a man in the uniform of a janissary entered.
The Middy and the Moors|R.M. Ballantyne
Coming down the hill into the plain, we were there met by a janissary from the convent, sent to conduct us into the city.
Early Travels in Palestine|Arculf et al.
He was attended by a janissary attached to the English Embassy and by a cicerone: he appeared to be about twenty-two.
My Recollections of Lord Byron|Teresa Guiccioli

Formerly, when a janissary was condemned to die, he was confined in this castle.
Journal of a Visit to Constantinople and Some of the Greek Islands in the Spring and Summer of 1833|John Auldjo

British Dictionary definitions for janissary

janissary

janizary (ˈdʒænɪzərɪ)

/ (ˈdʒænɪsərɪ) /

noun plural -saries or -zaries

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

Word Origin for janissary

C16: from French janissaire, from Italian giannizzero, from Turkish yeniçeri, from yeni new + çeri soldiery

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012