Janissary definition
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
Advertisement
Alternative Forms
Alternative Form of janissary -
janizar, janisary, janizary, jannissary
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
janissary
Plural:
janissariesOrigin of janissary
- 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 Wiktionary