fusilier
fusilier Lexical Profile
fusilier Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A historical infantry soldier armed with a light flintlock musket known as a fusil.
"During the 17th century, the fusilier played a crucial role in guarding artillery trains from enemy cavalry."
British A member of certain infantry regiments in the British and other Commonwealth armies, maintaining the historical name as a traditional, honorary title.
"The veteran proudly wore the distinctive hackle of his regiment, identifying him as a Royal Regiment fusilier."
Any of several brightly colored marine schooling fishes of the family Caesionidae, native to tropical coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region.
"A massive school of yellow-and-blue fusiliers darted above the coral reef, feeding on zooplankton."
• Rhymes for fusilier
Word Origin & Etymology
From French 'fusilier', from 'fusil' (a type of musket, originally a steel for striking a flint), originating from Vulgar Latin '*focile', derived from Latin 'focus' (hearth, fire).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.