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.

Nearby words

janie, janiform, janina, janine, janissaries, janissary, janissary music, janitor, janitorial, janitress, janizary

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for janissary

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
This distinction proved a great bore, and I should like to have had a janissary beside me to keep back the curious.
Letters to an Unknown|Prosper Mrime
By this time the Janissary was beside himself with rage at so much opposition.
Halil the Pedlar|Mr Jkai
All around sat the Spahi and Janissary officers with their swords in their hands.
Halil the Pedlar|Mr Jkai

On the way thither he looked in at the house of his neighbour, the well-mannered Janissary, who mended slippers.
Halil the Pedlar|Mr Jkai

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