Definition

1. 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

1. a highly mobile army unit
2. troops trained to fight on horseback
   • 500 horse led the attack