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Zouave

[ zoo-ahv, zwahv ]
/ zuˈɑv, zwɑv /

noun

(sometimes lowercase) one of a former body of infantry in the French army, composed originally of Algerians, distinguished for their dash, hardiness, and picturesque uniform.
a member of any body of soldiers adopting a similar dress and drill, especially a soldier serving in any of certain volunteer regiments in the American Civil War.

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Origin of Zouave

1820–30; <French <Arabic zawāwah, probably <Berber igowawen, the name of a Berber group

Words nearby Zouave

Zosimus, zoster, zosteriform, zoster immune globulin, Zosyn, Zouave, Zoug, zouk, zounds, Zovirax, zowie
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for Zouave

British Dictionary definitions for Zouave

Zouave
/ (zuːˈɑːv, zwɑːv) /

noun

(formerly) a member of a body of French infantry composed of Algerian recruits noted for their dash, hardiness, and colourful uniforms
a member of any body of soldiers wearing a similar uniform or otherwise modelled on the French Zouaves, esp a volunteer in such a unit of the Union Army in the American Civil War

Word Origin for Zouave

C19: from French, from Zwāwa, tribal name in Algeria
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