light infantry

noun

1. foot soldiers with lightweight weapons and minimal field equipment.

2. infantry units with a minimal number of crew-served weapons and other supporting equipment.

Word History and Origins

Origin of light infantry¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Museum volunteer Ken Brookes, who knew the couple, explained that they were both soldiers in the Durham Light Infantry and met in Cairo, Egypt.

From BBC

"These guys want to spend around 60 million on guns and light infantry vehicles and pay with diamonds," he added later.

From BBC

The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington DC, estimates that Hezbollah has around 30,000 active fighters and up to 20,000 reserves, mostly trained as mobile small units of light infantry.

From BBC

Lt Den Brotheridge served with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and was part of Operation Tonga to seize what is now known as Pegasus Bridge in Normandy.

From BBC

When Scotland’s Second Highland Light Infantry Battalion was finally taken out of action, only thirty men remained of the more than one thousand who had come to France at the start of the war.

From Literature