Nearby Words

dragoons

[druh-goon] Origin

dra·goon

[druh-goon]
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)
4.
to set dragoons or soldiers upon; persecute by armed force; oppress.
5.
to force by oppressive measures; coerce: The authorities dragooned the peasants into leaving their farms.

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Dragoons is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

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

dra·goon·age, noun
un·dra·gooned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To dragoons
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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