infantry
noun/ˈɪnfəntɹi/ · /ˈɪnfənt͡ʃɹi/
Etymology From Middle French infanterie, from older Italian, possibly from Spanish infantería (“foot soldiers, force composed of those too inexperienced or low in rank for cavalry”), from infante (“foot soldier”), originally "a youth", either way from Latin īnfāns (“child”); see there for more.
1
Soldiers who fight on foot (on land), as opposed to cavalry and other mounted units, regardless of external transport (e.g. airborne).
2
The part of an army consisting of infantry soldiers, especially opposed to mounted and technical troops.
3
A regiment of infantry.
4
Colloquial, Humorous Infants; children.
- The next summer there was a crop of blackberries in the woods. I took wife and babies, supplied with lunch and horse feed; […] Wife took command of the infantry and I of the transportation. We were both soon calling loudly for assistance.1887, Transactions of the Iowa State Horticultural Society, page 142:
- Derived terms
- infanteer, infantry fighting vehicle, infantryman, infantryperson, infantrywoman, light infantry, line infantry, marine infantry, mechanized infantry, motorized infantry, mounted infantry, naval infantry, noninfantry
- Related terms
- infant