History/Historical. a member of a local militia in Croatia, formed as a regiment in the Austrian army in the 18th century and noted for its ruthlessness and cruelty.
2.
a brutal, marauding soldier.
Origin: 1740–50; < F pandour(e) ≪ Serbo-Croatian pàndūr community or city policeman, pandour, prob. < Hungarian pandúr < Slavic *pǫdarĭ (> Serbo-Croatian pùdār one who guards a vineyard), deriv. of *pǫditi to drive off, frighten; the Serbo-Croatian var. bàndūr (17th century) may result from crossing with ML banderia or It bandiera troop, lit., banner
[pan-doo
r] 