cavalry

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   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.

2. 2
   noun

   A source of rescue, especially in an emergency.

   Call in the cavalry.

3. 3
   noun

   a highly mobile army unit

4. 4
   noun

   troops trained to fight on horseback

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Cavalry, recorded from the mid-16th century, ultimately derives from Latin caballus, “horse.” It shares this origin with cavalier, cavalcade, and chivalry.

From Middle French cavalerie, in turn from Italian cavalleria. Recorded in English from the 1540s. Doublet of chivalry.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary