janissary

jan·is·sar·y

 (jăn′ĭ-sĕr′ē) also jan·i·zar·y (-zĕr′ē)

n. pl. jan·is·sar·ies

1. A soldier of the Ottoman Empire in an elite guard organized in the 1300s and abolished in 1826.

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

---

[Middle French jehanicere, janissaire, from Old Italian giannizero, from Ottoman Turkish yeñiçeri, new army, Janissary corps : yañı, new (from Old Turkic yaŋı) + çeri, special troops (from Old Turkic çērig, phalanx, order of battle).]

janissary

(ˈdʒænɪsərɪ) or

janizary

n, pl -saries or -zaries

(Military) an infantryman in the Turkish army, originally a member of the sovereign's personal guard, from the 14th to the early 19th century

[C16: from French janissaire, from Italian giannizzero, from Turkish yeniçeri, from yeni new + çeri soldiery]

jan•is•sar•y

(ˈdʒæn əˌsɛr i)

also jan•i•zar•y

(-ˌzɛr i)

n., pl. -sar•ies also -zar•ies.

1. (often cap.) a member of an elite military unit of the Turkish army organized in the 14th century and abolished in 1826.

2. a member of any group of loyal guards, soldiers, or supporters.

[1520–30; < French janissaire < Italian gian(n)izzero < Turkish yeniçeri=yeni new + çeri soldiery, militia]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	janissary - a loyal supporter; "every politician has a following of janissaries" follower - a person who accepts the leadership of another
	2.	Janissary - a Turkish soldier soldier - an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army; "the soldiers stood at attention"

Translations

janitsaari

janissaire

janjičar

janicsár

janitsjar

yeniçeri