sepoy
/ˈsiːpɔɪ
/ /sɪˈpɔɪ/noun historical
1An Indian soldier serving under British or other European orders: [as modifier]: he could see the sepoy infantry advancing...
- The only need was for military labour, but even here local soldiers, especially Indian sepoys, were cheap and abundant.
- His force was made up of two British regular infantry regiments, the 74th and 78th of Foot, Company sepoys and infantry from Hyderabad.
- Huge armies were created, largely composed of Indian sepoys but with some regular British regiments.
1.1(In South Asia) a police constable.
Origin
From Urdu and Persian sipāhī 'soldier', from sipāh 'army'.