condottiere Hear it!

condottiere Definition

con·dot·tiere (kän′dô tyer′ā; It kō̂n′dō̂t tye′re)

noun pl. -·ri-ē; It, -rē

in Europe from the 14th to the 16th cent., a captain of a band of mercenaries

Etymology: It < condotto, one hired < L conductus, mercenary soldier < pp. of conducere, to hire, lead together (see conduce); infl. in It by condotta, leadership < same L source