cavalry

[kav-uh l-ree] /ˈkæv əl ri/
noun, plural cavalries.
1.
Military.
  1. the part of a military force composed of troops that serve on horseback.
  2. mounted soldiers collectively.
  3. the motorized, armored units of a military force organized for maximum mobility.
2.
horsemen, horses, etc., collectively.
Origin
1585-95; syncopated variant of cavallery < Italian cavalleria, derivative of cavaliere cavalier
Can be confused
Calvary, cavalry.
Examples from the web for cavalry
  • There are cavalry stables, where lights burn all night long to protect the horses from the vampire bats.
  • At an early hour this morning the cavalry corps again moved forward.
  • Other entertainments will include live music, wagon rides and cavalry maneuvers.
  • He found it intrenched and occupied by cavalry and infantry.
  • Zero coverage all over the field and send the cavalry on blitzes.
British Dictionary definitions for cavalry

cavalry

/ˈkævəlrɪ/
noun (pl) -ries
1.
(esp formerly) the part of an army composed of mounted troops
2.
the armoured element of a modern army
3.
(as modifier): a cavalry unit, a cavalry charge
Derived Forms
cavalryman, noun
Word Origin
C16: from French cavallerie, from Italian cavalleria, from cavaliere horseman; see cavalier
Word Origin and History for cavalry
n.

1540s, from Middle French cavalerie (16c.), from Italian cavalleria "mounted militia," from cavaliere (see cavalier (n.)). An Old English word for it was horshere.

Slang definitions & phrases for cavalry

cavalry

noun

Last-minute rescue forces; a deus ex machina: Powell likened the Somalia operation to ''the cavalry coming to the rescue''/ not the time for a President who avoided the draft to call up the cavalry/ Democrats hear hoofbeats—the cavalry's arrival, in the nick of time

[1980s+; fr the numerous cases in cowboy movies when the US Cavalry would arrive to rescue various beleaguered persons]