janissary

[ jan-uh-ser-ee ]

noun

, plural jan·is·sar·ies.

1. (often initial capital letter) a member of an elite military unit of the Turkish army organized in the 14th century and abolished in 1826 after it revolted against the Sultan.
2. (often initial capital letter) any soldier in the Turkish army.
3. a member of any group of loyal guards, soldiers, or supporters.

janissary

/ ˈdʒænɪsərɪ; ˈdʒænɪzərɪ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of janissary¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of janissary¹

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

Example Sentences

From the mid-17th century, this abduction of boys stopped and Janissaries became a hereditary corps.

From Seattle Times

He helped popularize the military science fiction genre with novels such as Janissaries and The Mercenary, but is also credited with a major milestone: the first author to write a novel entirely on a computer.

From The Verge

He had decided to crack down on the elite military unit known as Janissaries, who he feared were becoming too powerful.

From BBC

Never again, as in the last centuries, would Ottoman officials arrive in the village every year, carting off the strongest boys to serve in the Janissaries.

From Literature

These had long been the real masters of Egypt—a terror to every successive government, as were the Janissaries to the Sultan in Constantinople.

From Project Gutenberg