infantry English · revision 1888

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɪnfəntɹi/, /ˈɪnfənt͡ʃɹi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|infanterie]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|it|infanteria|t=foot soldiers]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a collective from ''infante'' “youth; foot soldier”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la|infans|t=infant]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[infant]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The body of foot soldiers; the part of an army that fights on foot (1579).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline explains the Italian word as a force made up of those too inexperienced or low in rank to serve in the cavalry.^(Etymonline) The word also meant, humorously, “infants collectively” (1613–16).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) It has otherwise kept its military sense,^(OED 1989) applied to soldiers who fight on foot and to the branch of an army they make up.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1579 – foot soldiers.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1613–16 – infants collectively, now jocular.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Soldiers trained, armed and equipped to fight on foot.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The branch of an [[army]] made up of such soldiers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An infantry [[regiment]] or division.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[infantryman]]

+ * [[light infantry]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[infant]]

+ * [[infante]]

+ * [[cavalry]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}