dragoon
/drəˈɡuːn
/noun
1A member of any of several cavalry regiments in the British army.From the calibre of those we recover we can tell whether they were fired by musketeers, cavalry, dragoons or possibly, from the surface damage on them, as ‘case-shot’ from artillery pieces....
- It is possible that the red uniforms of several British dragoons may have been glimpsed on Novikov's estate.
- In fact, the lancers were a minority of those who charged: only one regiment of lancers, but two each of hussars and light dragoons.
Synonyms
cavalryman, mounted soldier, horse soldier, cavalier, knight, chevalier;
carabineer, hussar, lancer, cuirassier, sabreur
1.1 historical A mounted infantryman armed with a carbine.Cavalry forces evolved into four categories throughout the ages: the cuirassier or heavy cavalryman, the lancer, the dragoon or mounted infantryman, and the light cavalry....
- This small force consisted of a troop of dragoons in front, an advance guard of light infantry, a few artillery batteries, and several infantry regiments in the rear.
- In an unwary moment, French dragoons come so very narrowly to causing Wellesley great harm, prevented only by the heroic efforts of Sergeant Richard Sharpe.
verb [with object]
Coerce (someone) into doing something: she had been dragooned into helping with the housework...
- What they need help with is mostly serving meals and answering phones - they aren't dragooning people into serving on bucket brigades.
- After sitting through the tedious mutualisation vote, he was dragooned by the bossy PR woman from during the question time session for group managing director.
- Once upon a time my Sunday school teacher dragooned me into a little kiddie choir that performed ‘Away in A Manger’ during the Christmas cantata.
Synonyms
coerce, pressure, pressurize, bring pressure to bear on, use pressure on, put pressure on, constrain, lean on, press, push;
force, compel, impel, oblige, put under an obligation, squeeze, hound, harass, nag, harry, badger, goad, drive, prod, pester, browbeat, brainwash, bludgeon, bully, threaten, tyrannize, prevail on, work on, act on, influence, intimidate, twist someone's arm, strong-arm;
North American blackjack
informal bulldoze, railroad, put the screws/squeeze on
British informal bounce
North American informal hustle, fast-talk
Origin
Early 17th century (denoting a kind of carbine or musket, thought of as breathing fire): from French dragon 'dragon'.