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ulan

[oo-lahn, yoo-luh n]
noun
  1. uhlan.
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uhlan

or u·lan

[oo-lahn, yoo-luh n]
noun
  1. one of a group of lancers in a light-cavalry unit, first appearing in Europe in the Polish army.
  2. one of such a group as later developed into heavy cavalry in western European armies, especially in Germany.
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Origin of uhlan

1745–55; < German < Polish ulan ≪ Turkish oğlan boy, lad
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for ulan

ulan

noun
  1. a less common variant of uhlan
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uhlan

ulan

noun
  1. history a member of a body of lancers first employed in the Polish army and later in W European armies
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Word Origin for uhlan

C18: via German from Polish ulan, from Turkish ōlan young man
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ulan

uhlan

n.

"cavalryman," 1753, from German Uhlan, from Polish ułan "a lancer," from Turkish oghlan "a youth." For sense evolution, cf. infantry.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper