janissary

[ jan-uh-ser-ee ]
/ ˈdʒæn əˌsɛr i /

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.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON THESE WORDS FROM BROWN GIRL DREAMING!

Visualize yourself passing this quiz on words from Jacqueline Woodson’s exquisite verse novel “Brown Girl Dreaming,” and then take the quiz to prove you can do it! (Because you can.)
Question 1 of 10
What does “barren” mean?
a cylindrical wooden container with slightly bulging sides.
Worn down by dullness, tedious repetition.
unproductive; unfruitful
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
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. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for janissary

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