cavalry
noun/ˈkæ.vəl.ɹi/ · /ˈkæl.və.ɹi/
Etymology From Middle French cavalerie, in turn from Italian cavalleria. Recorded in English from the 1540s. Doublet of chivalry.
1
Government, Military, Politics, War Historical, Usually The 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.1891, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, chapter XXXIII, in The White Company, New York, N.Y.; Boston, Mass.: Thomas Y[oung] Crowell & Company […], →OCLC:
2
Government, Military, Politics, War An individual unit of this arm of service.
3
Government, Military, Politics, War The branch of the military transported by fast light vehicles, also known as mechanized cavalry.
4
Figuratively A 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!"2015 February 1, Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary, archived from the original on 14 May 2024:
- Derived terms
- air cavalry, camelry, cavalry bone, cavalryman, cavalry moustache, cavalry mustache, cavalrywoman, heavy cavalry, light cavalry, mechanized cavalry, sky cavalry