Chetnik

American  

[chet-neek, chet-nik] / tʃɛtˈnik, ˈtʃɛt nɪk /

noun

1. a member of a Serbian nationalist group that fought against the Turks in the early part of the 20th century and carried on guerrilla warfare during World War I and II.

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Chetnik British  

/ ˈtʃɛtnɪk, tʃɛtˈniːk /

noun

1. a Serbian nationalist belonging to a group that fought against the Turks before World War I and engaged in guerrilla warfare during both World Wars

2. a member of a Serbian nationalist paramilitary group fighting to retain Serbian influence in the countries which formerly constituted Yugoslavia

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Etymology

Origin of Chetnik

1905–10; < Serbo-Croatian čȅtnīk guerrilla, equivalent to čȅt ( a ) troop (cognate with Old Russian cheta, Czech četa ) + -nīk agent suffix ( cf. -nik)

Example Sentences

Draja Mihailovich's fiery army of 145-150,000 former Yugoslav regulars, Serb Chetnik guerrillas, Croats, Slovenes, Jews, Bulgarian and Austrian deserters, has often been called a guerrilla force.

From Time Magazine Archive

We overtook a file of gloomy, bedraggled German, Croat Ustashi and Chetnik prisoners with Partisan guards in front and a Partisan girl, a rifle across her shoulder, singing in the row of guards behind.

From Time Magazine Archive

Nothing that Mihailovich could say would wipe out abundant evidence that some of his Chetnik troops collaborated with the Germans.

From Time Magazine Archive

Army officers who were with him at Chetnik headquarters.

From Time Magazine Archive

Suddenly I saw a Chetnik standing in a group of German officers.

From Time Magazine Archive