Janissary

9.9

A soldier chosen as a boy to serve the Sultan as his special guard in the Ottoman Empire

noun
/ˈdʒænɪˌsɛri/

Archaic

: jenízaro

To survive, Sultan Sillim the Third sought to curb the Janissary's influence and modernize the empire with widespread reforms.

They didn't want their sons to have to go become Janissaries.

Examples

Bayazid had a strong centre with Archers in front, Janissaries in the second line and Sipahi cavalry in reserve.
According to these tales, Mehmet Beg perished at the hands of the janissaries as the remaining Turks broke through the encirclement and fled west.

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A fierce melee ensued, with elite Janissaries dueling disciplined Knights.
The Sultan's elite infantry, known as janissaries, were feared for their discipline and combat skills.
Historically, janissaries served as the backbone of the Ottoman military, often leading key battles.
Many stories recount the bravery of the janissaries during sieges, earning them a fearsome reputation throughout Europe.

Compounds

modern-day janissary

Literature

9.9

A loyal person who enforces a leader's orders

janissary elite

Specialized

9.9

A group of special soldiers in the Ottoman Empire who served the ruler and had great power

Surface Forms

janissary singular

janissaries plural

Etymology

Janissary comes from the Turkish words yeni 'new' and çeri 'soldier', so it originally meant 'new soldier'. These young men were chosen and trained to be a special troop for the Ottoman ruler, which is why Janissary now means a member of that famous Ottoman infantry.