pandour

American  

[pan-door] / ˈpæn dʊər /

noun

1. History/Historical. a member of a local militia in Croatia, formed as a regiment in the Austrian army in the 18th century and noted for its ruthlessness and cruelty.

2. a brutal, marauding soldier.

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pandour British  

/ ˈpændʊə /

noun

1. one of an 18th-century force of Croatian soldiers in the Austrian service, notorious for their brutality

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Etymology

Origin of pandour

1740–50; < French pandour ( e ) ≪ Serbo-Croatian pàndūr community or city policeman, pandour, probably < Hungarian pandúr < Slavic *pǫdarĭ (> Serbo-Croatian pùdār one who guards a vineyard), derivative of *pǫditi to drive off, frighten; the Serbo-Croatian variant bàndūr (17th century) may result from crossing with Medieval Latin banderia or Italian bandiera troop, literally, banner

Example Sentences

In the evening the Vayvode sent a message by his pandour, to say that he would pay me a visit along with the Agas of the town, who, six in number, shortly afterwards came.

From Servia, Youngest Member of the European Family or, A Residence in Belgrade and Travels in the Highlands and Woodlands of the Interior, during the years 1843 and 1844. by Paton, Andrew Archibald

"He is the only heir of the pandour chieftain, Franz von Trenck."

From Frederick the Great and His Family by Coleman, Chapman, Mrs.

You're as hard as the Poles' "whiskered pandour."

From Punch, or the London Charivari, December 2, 1893 by Various

It is now time to allow the letter of the pandour to work.

From Berlin and Sans-Souci; or Frederick the Great and his friends by Mühlbach, L. (Luise)

The king appeared relieved, as he replied, with a smile: "This pandour is a cousin of our lieutenant."

From Berlin and Sans-Souci; or Frederick the Great and his friends by Mühlbach, L. (Luise)