janissary
An illustration of a janissary (sense 1) from Ioannina, Greece, by w:Otto Magnus von Stackelberg (archaeologist)Otto Magnus von Stackelberg
Meaning
Noun
- An infantry soldier, often of Christian descent and forcibly converted to Islam, in a former elite Turkish (Ottoman) guard (disbanded in 1826); any Turkish soldier, particularly one escorting a traveller.
- An elite, highly loyal supporter.
Origin
- . Compare Dutch janitsaar, German Janitschar. The word is attested from the early 16th century in English; the janissaries themselves date from the 14th century.
Modern English dictionary
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