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janissary

historically, a member of the elite Ottoman Turkish infantry

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Where does the word "janissary" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish yeni cheri, and was adopted directly into English (1520s).

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Where does the word "janissary" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish yeni cheri, and was adopted directly into English (1520s).

Janissary’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: yeni cheri meant “new soldier.” Literally new soldier, an elite infantry corps of the Ottoman army. It reached English by 1520s as janissary. Turkish 'yeni çeri', new troops; the corps was abolished by Sultan Mahmud II in 1826. Today, janissary means historically, a member of the elite Ottoman Turkish infantry.

  1. Stage 1 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval yeni cheri "new soldier", literally new soldier, an elite infantry corps of the Ottoman army.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1520s janissary "a member of the Ottoman elite infantry corps", Turkish 'yeni çeri', new troops; the corps was abolished by Sultan Mahmud II in 1826.

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