infantry
/ˈɪnf(ə)ntri
/noun [mass noun]
Soldiers marching or fighting on foot; foot soldiers collectively: the infantry advanced at sunrise the ships carried two regiments of infantry [as modifier]: infantry battalions...
- Then there were the marine corps and army infantry who waded ashore or were landed by air on island after island.
- He was transferred to the Paratroop regiment and received infantry training just before war broke out.
- The infantry battle was finely balanced, both sides fighting bravely hand-to-hand.
Synonyms
infantrymen, foot soldiers, foot guards;
the ranks, the rank and file, cannon fodder;
in the US GIs
British informal Tommies
military slang infanteers, grunts
US informal, dated dogfaces, doughboys
historical footmen
Origin
Late 16th century: from French infanterie, from Italian infanteria, from infante 'youth, infantryman', from Latin infant- (see infant).