infantry

Where does the word "infantry" come from? It comes from Latin infans, passing through Italian before entering English (1570s).

Infantry’s story begins in Latin: infans meant “an infant, a youth.” Literally unable to speak, an infant, extended to mean a young person or foot soldier. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as infanteria. Settled in Italian for young foot soldiers serving under a knight. It reached English by 1570s as infantry. Italian 'infante', youth, since foot soldiers were young men serving knights. Today, infantry means soldiers who fight on foot, forming the main body of an army.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient infans "an infant, a youth", literally unable to speak, an infant, extended to mean a young person or foot soldier.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval infanteria "young foot soldiers", settled in Italian for young foot soldiers serving under a knight.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1570s infantry "soldiers who fight on foot", Italian 'infante', youth, since foot soldiers were young men serving knights.