impi

[ im-pee ]

noun

, plural im·pies, im·pis.

1. (in South African history) a unit of Zulu warriors; regiment.

impi

/ ˈɪmpɪ /

noun

1. a group of Bantu warriors

Word History and Origins

Origin of impi¹

1875–80; < Zulu: impi, armed force, battle

Word History and Origins

Origin of impi¹

C19: Nguni: regiment, army

Example Sentences

As Vidler had said, it seemed a regular impi, for there certainly could not have been much less than a hundred.

From Project Gutenberg

A black impi—a naked impi—no dirty tattered shirts or ragged store clothes among these.

From Project Gutenberg

The impi had returned from its pursuit of the rescue party, and was searching for its dead and wounded.

From Project Gutenberg

We are not at war with the Zulu people that an impi should ‘eat up’ our camp and kill our servants.

From Project Gutenberg

The two young men were surrounded—stood now in the very centre of the impi.

From Project Gutenberg