zouave
pronunciation
How to pronounce zouave in British English:
UK 
How to pronounce zouave in American English:
US
Word Origin
- zouave (n.)
- member of a French light infantry troop, 1848, from French, from Arabic Zwawa, from Berber Igawawaen, name of a Kabyle tribe in Algeria, from which the zouaves originally were recruited in 1831. The military units soon became exclusively French but served only in Algeria until 1854 and were "distinguished for their dash, intrepidity, and hardihood, and for their peculiar drill and showy Oriental uniform" [Century Dictionary]. Some Northern regiments in the American Civil War adopted the name and elements of the uniform. The women's fashionable zouave jacket (1859) also is based on the uniform.
Example
- 1. And the air of supercilious elegance which had clung about him in his striking zouave uniform was completely gone .
- 2. Then it was laid gently on the pile of jewelry . The two girls stood looking after the zouave who was moving toward the group of elderly ladies in the corner , scarlett defiant , melanie with a look more pitiful than tears .