cavalry
/'kævəlri/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A highly mobile army unit: "Cavalry" refers to a military force that moves and fights with speed and agility, historically on horseback but now often in armored vehicles or aircraft.
- Troops trained to fight on horseback: The traditional and most common historical meaning, denoting soldiers who fight mounted on horses.
Usage
- The term "cavalry" is used as a collective noun (e.g., ). It typically refers to the unit as a whole rather than individual soldiers.
- In modern contexts, it can refer to armored or air mobile units that serve the traditional cavalry role of reconnaissance, shock action, and rapid maneuver.
Examples
- Noun:
- The general sent in the cavalry to flank the enemy position.
- In the 19th century, the cavalry charge was a fearsome tactic.
- Modern armies have armored cavalry equipped with tanks and reconnaissance vehicles.
Advanced Usage
- "to call in the cavalry": This idiom means to request help or reinforcements, especially in a difficult situation. It extends the military concept to general problem-solving.
- When the project was failing, the manager had to call in the cavalry from the head office.
Variants and Related Words
- Cavalier (noun, historical): A knight or mounted soldier; a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship. (Note: This is a related but distinct word with its own meanings, including an adjective meaning "carefree and dismissive").
- Air cavalry (noun): A modern military unit using helicopters for transport and attack, fulfilling the traditional cavalry roles of mobility and reconnaissance.
- The air cavalry was deployed to secure the landing zone.
Synonyms
- Mounted troops: Soldiers who fight on horseback.
- Horse soldiers: A simple, descriptive synonym.
- Dragoons (historical): A specific type of cavalry soldier, originally mounted infantry.
Related Phrases
- Cavalry charge: A traditional tactical maneuver where cavalry units attack at high speed.
- The battle was decided by a decisive cavalry charge.
- Cavalry regiment: A specific organizational unit within an army's cavalry forces.
Noun
- a highly mobile army unit
- troops trained to fight on horseback
- 500 horse led the attack