cavalry

noun

cav·​al·​ry ˈka-vəl-rē 

nonstandard

ˈkal-və-rē 

plural cavalries

1

a

: an army component mounted on horseback

b

: an army component moving in motor vehicles or helicopters and assigned to combat missions that require great mobility

2

: horsemen

a thousand cavalry in flight

Examples of cavalry in a Sentence

Cavalry is used to perform reconnaissance.

The cavalry were brought in to support the mission.

Recent Examples on the Web

Unfortunately for Black, that cavalry is still several more 1-year contract extensions away. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2024

And yet, with less than a month before Election Day, the GOP cavalry is heading to Omaha airwaves to protect Fischer, a keep-your-head-down lawmaker with plum assignments on the Armed Services and Appropriations committees. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024

Both of the aforementioned sieges at Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith reached a point where all seemed lost, until the cavalry arrived at the last moment to rescue the good guys. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 Sep. 2024

On July 28, the attack began, including cavalry troops under the command of Major George S. Patton. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

earlier cavallerie, borrowed from Middle French cavalerie, borrowed from Italian cavalleria, earlier cavalaria "group of soldiers on horseback, branch of arms made up of such soldiers," from cavalliere, cavaliere "horseback rider, mounted soldier" + -eria, borrowed from Middle French -erie -ery — more at cavalier entry 2

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cavalry

• cavalry twill

Kids Definition

cavalry

noun

cav·​al·​ry ˈkav-əl-rē 

plural cavalries

: troops mounted on horseback or moving in motor vehicles or helicopters

Etymology

from Italian cavallerie "cavalry, chivalry," from cavaliere "cavalier, knight," derived from Latin caballarius "horseman," from earlier caballus "horse" — related to cavalier, chivalry see Word History at chivalry