dragooning
noun
1.
(especially formerly) a European cavalryman of a heavily armed troop.
2.
a member of a military unit formerly composed of such cavalrymen, as in the British army.
3.
(formerly) a mounted infantryman armed with a short musket.
verb (used with object)
5.
to force by oppressive measures; coerce: The authorities dragooned the peasants into leaving their farms.
00:10
Dragooning
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Origin:
1615–25; < French dragon, special use of dragon dragon, applied first to a pistol hammer (so named because of its shape), then to the firearm, then to the troops so armed
1615–25; < French dragon, special use of dragon dragon, applied first to a pistol hammer (so named because of its shape), then to the firearm, then to the troops so armed
Related forms
dra·goon·age, noun
un·dra·gooned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To dragooning
Collins
World English Dictionary
dragoon (drəˈɡuːn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | (originally) a mounted infantryman armed with a carbine |
| 2. | (sometimes capital) a domestic fancy pigeon |
| 3. | a. a type of cavalryman |
| b. (pl; cap when part of a name): the Royal Dragoons | |
| —vb | |
| 4. | to coerce; force: he was dragooned into admitting it |
| 5. | to persecute by military force |
| [C17: from French dragon (special use of | |
| dra'goonage | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
dragoon
1622, from Fr. dragon "carbine, musket," because the guns the soldiers carried "breathed fire" like a dragon. The verb is from 1689, lit. "to force by the agency of dragoons" (which were used by the Fr. kings to persecute Protestants).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Nearby Words
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