crusade

cru·sade

1. often Crusade Any of the military expeditions undertaken by European Christians in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.
2. A holy war undertaken with papal sanction.
3. A vigorous concerted movement for a cause or against an abuse. See Synonyms at campaign.

Origin: French croisade and Spanish cruzada, both ultimately from Latin crux, cruc-, cross.

Related Forms:

• crusader cru·sadˈer noun