Janissary definition

-zĕrē

Words form:

Frequency:

Any very loyal or submissive follower or supporter.

noun

A member of a group of elite, highly loyal supporters.

noun

A soldier in an elite Turkish guard organized in the 1300s and abolished in 1826.

noun

A soldier (orig. a slave) in the Turkish sultan's guard, established in the 14th cent. and abolished in 1826

noun

Any Turkish soldier.

noun

noun

noun

Alternative Forms

Alternative Form of janissary - janizar, janisary, janizary, jannissary

Singular:

janissary

Plural:

janissaries

French janissaire from Old French jehanicere from Old Italian giannizero from Ottoman Turkish yanī cheri new army yanī new cheri special troops (from Middle Persian chērīh bravery, victory) (from chēr brave, victorious)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From French janissaire, from Italian gianizzero, from Turkish yeniçeri, from yeni (“new”) + çeri (“army”).

From Wiktionary