pandour
Americannoun
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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.
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a brutal, marauding soldier.
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"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
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)
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)
When you inform the king of this letter from the pandour, you can also say that Lieutenant von Trenck received a second letter from Berlin, and that you believe it to be from a lady.
From Berlin and Sans-Souci; or Frederick the Great and his friends by Mühlbach, L. (Luise)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
