janissary
English
/ˈdʒanɪzəɹi/, /ˈdʒænəˌzeɹi/
noun
Definitions
- (historical) An infantry soldier, often of Christian descent and forcibly converted to Islam, in a former elite Turkish (Ottoman) guard (disbanded in 1826); by extension, any Turkish soldier, particularly one escorting a traveller.
- (figuratively) An elite, highly loyal supporter.
Etymology
Derived from Turkish yeniçeri.
Origin
Turkish
yeniçeri
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- janissaryship English
- Janitschar German
- Janitschariat German
- giannizzerato Italian
- giannizzero Italian
- janissaire French
- janissariat French
- yeni Turkish
- yeniçeri Turkish
- çeri Turkish
- یڭیچری Ottoman Turkish