janissary
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈdʒanɪzəɹi/, /ˈja-/, /-səɹi/
  • (GA) IPA: /ˈdʒænəˌzeɹi/, /-səɹi/
Noun

janissary (plural janissaries)

  1. (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 escort#Verb|escorting a traveller.
  2. (figuratively) An elite#Adjective|elite, highly loyal supporter.
Translations


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