sepoy

[see-poi]

noun

1. (formerly, in India) a soldier, usually an infantryman, in the service of Europeans, especially of the British.

sepoy

/ ˈsiːpɔɪ /

noun

1. (formerly) an Indian soldier in the service of the British

Word History and Origins

Origin of sepoy¹

First recorded in 1675–85, in sense “horseman”; 1710–20 for current sense; variant of sipahi from Urdu, from Persian sipāhī “horseman, soldier,” derivative of sipāh “army”; spahi

Word History and Origins

Origin of sepoy¹

C18: from Portuguese sipaio, from Urdu sipāhī, from Persian: horseman, from sipāh army

Example Sentences

Khan was a sepoy in the British Indian Army.

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His chilling photograph of the hanging of sepoys, stands out for its stark depiction.

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Indian soldiers, known as sepoys, had in 1857 set off a rebellion against the British rule, often referred to as the first war of independence.

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A devout circle of 250 Sikh sepoys trailed him everywhere, refusing government pay.

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Native Hindu and Muslim soldiers, also known as sepoys, rebelled against the British East India Company in 1857 over fears that gun cartridges were greased with animal fat forbidden by their religions.

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