janissary
English
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janissary
- /ˈdʒanɪzəɹi/ UK
- /ˈja-/ UK
- /-səɹi/ UK
- /ˈd͡ʒænəˌzeɹi/ US
- /-səɹi/ US
Where it comes from
]
Etymology tree
Proto-Turkic *yaŋï
Old Anatolian Turkish یكی (yäŋi)
Ottoman Turkish یكی (yeñi)
Proto-Turkic *čerig
Old Anatolian Turkish چری (čäri)
Ottoman Turkish چری (çeri)
Ottoman Turkish یكیچری (yeñiçeri)bor.
Italian giannizzaroder.
English janissary
From Italian giannizzaro, possibly via Middle French ianissaire or Spanish jenízaro, from Ottoman Turkish یڭیچری (yeñiçeri) (whence Modern Turkish yeniçeri), from یڭی (yeñi, “new”) + چری (çeri, “soldier”). Compare Dutch janitsaar, German Janitschar. The word is attested from the early 16th century in English; the janissaries themselves date from the 14th century.
noun janissaries · janisary · janissar · janizary · janizar · yenicheri
- An infantry soldier, often of European Christian background from the Balkans as well as Eastern Europe and forcibly converted to Islam, in a former elite Turkish (Ottoman) guard (disbanded in 1826). My Lord the great Commander of the worlde, Besides fifteene contributory kings, Hath now in armes ten thouſand Ianiſaries, Mounted on luſty Mauritanian Steeds, […]
- Any Turkish soldier, particularly one escorting a traveller.
- An elite, highly loyal supporter. Here is a Proclamation for a Prince: that proclaims him in whoſe name it is emitted [James II of England], to be the greateſt Tyrant that ever lived in the world, and their Revolt who have diſowned him to be the juſteſt that ever was. For herein that Monſter of Prerogative is […] advanced […] to cla
Translations
Every language
noun former Turkish soldier
| Español | jenízaro |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 예니체리 yenicheri |
| 日本語 | イェニチェリ yenicheri |
| 中文 | 土耳其新軍 /土耳其新军 Tǔ'ěrqí xīnjūn, 土耳其禁衛軍 /土耳其禁卫军 Tǔ'ěrqí jìnwèijūn, 耶尼切里 yēníqiēlǐ |
| हिन्दी | जाँनिसारी jā̃nisārī, यनीचरी yanīcarī |
| Português | janíçaro |
| Français | janissaire |
| Deutsch | Janitschar |
| Italiano | giannizzero |
| Ελληνικά | γενίτσαρος genítsaros |
| Română | ienicer |
| Русский | яныча́р janyčár |
| العربية | إِنْكِشَارِيّ ʔinkišāriyy |
Talk about this word "janissary." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/janissary. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. janissary. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/janissary "janissary." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/janissary.Cite this
@misc{janissary_2026,
title = {janissary},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/janissary},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
