cavalry
nouncommon in dialogue
- //ˈkæ.vəl.ɹi//
- //ˈkæl.və.ɹi//
An individual unit of this arm of service.
noun
- 1
historicalThe military arm of service that fights while riding horses.
Two hundred heavily-armed cavalry rode behind the Audley standard, while close at their heels came the Duke of Lancaster with a glittering train, heralds tabarded with the royal arms riding three deep upon cream-colored chargers in front of him.
- 2
An individual unit of this arm of service.
- 3
The branch of the military transported by fast light vehicles, also known as mechanized cavalry.
- 4
figurativeA source of rescue, especially in an emergency.
call in the cavalry
"We landed in their killbox?" "We did. I am sor... No, belay that. Heads down! Cavalry incoming!"
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Celtic *kaballosder.? Latin caballus Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -ārius Late Latin caballāriusder. Old Occitan cavalierbor. Italian cavaliere ▲ Latin -ārius Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂ Proto-Italic *-ā Latin -a Latin -āriader. Italian -eria Italian cavalleriabor. Middle French cavaleriebor. English cavalry From Middle French cavalerie, in turn from Italian cavalleria. Recorded in English from the 1540s. Doublet of chivalry.
Forms
- plural
- cavalries
cavalry · An individual unit of this arm of service.
Cavanaugh · A surname from Irish.cave · A large, naturally-occurring cavity formed underground or in…Cave · The 18th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.