fusilier
pronunciation
How to pronounce fusilier in British English:
UK [ˌfju:zəˈlɪə(r)]
How to pronounce fusilier in American English:
US [ˌfjuzəˈlɪr]
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- Noun:
- (formerly) a British infantryman armed with a light flintlock musket
Word Origin
- fusilier (n.)
- also fusileer, 1670s, "soldier armed with a musket," from French fusilier "musket" (17c.), literally "piece of steel against which a flint strikes flame," from Old French fuisil, foisil "steel for striking fire; flint; whetstone; grindstone" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *focilis (petra) "(stone) producing fire," from Latin focus "hearth," in Vulgar Latin "fire" (see focus (n.)). Retained by certain regiments of the British army that were formerly armed with fusils.