sepoy

American  

[see-poi] / ˈsi pɔɪ /

noun

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

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sepoy British  

/ ˈsiːpɔɪ /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of sepoy

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

Example Sentences

Khan was a sepoy in the British Indian Army.

From BBC

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

From BBC

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.

From BBC

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

From Washington Post

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.

From BBC