velites

British  

/ ˈviːlɪˌtiːz /

plural noun

1. light-armed troops in ancient Rome, drawn from the poorer classes

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Etymology

Origin of velites

C17: from Latin, pl of vēles light-armed foot soldier; related to volāre to fly

Example Sentences

He placed the Clinabarians outside the infantry next to the velites, and the Numidians beyond; when day appeared, both sides were thus in line face to face.

From Salammbo by Flaubert, Gustave

The Barbarians dashed into it in order to overtake the velites; quite at the bottom other Carthaginians were running tumultuously amid galloping oxen.

From Salammbo by Flaubert, Gustave

You ought to have made your ranks twice as deep, avoided exposing the velites against the phalanx, and given free passage to the elephants.

From Salammbo by Flaubert, Gustave

His velites advanced in front of the standards, with the Cretan archers of Attalus, the slingers, and the corps of Trulles and of the Thracians.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 56, Number 348 by Various

The new territories furnished cavalry, better and more numerous than the old equites, and light troops of various kinds to replace the velites.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various