Glossary





Achilles

A·chil·les (e-kîl¹êz) noun

Greek Mythology.

The hero of Homer's Iliad, the son of Peleus and Thetis and slayer of Hector.



Armor

ar·mor (är¹mer) noun

A defensive covering, such as chain mail, worn to protect the body against weapons.



Battalion

bat·tal·ion (be-tàl¹yen) noun

Abbr. bat., batt., bn., Bn. a. An army unit typically consisting of a headquarters and two or more

companies, batteries, or similar subunits.



Breastplate

breast·plate (brèst¹plât´) noun

A piece of armor that covers the breast.



Bivouacked

biv·ou·ac (bîv¹¡-àk´, bîv¹wàk´) noun

A temporary encampment often in an unsheltered area.



Cavalry

cav·al·ry (kàv¹el-rê) noun

plural cav·al·ries

Abbr. cav.

Troops trained to fight on horseback.



Chariots

char·i·ot (chàr¹ê-et) noun

1. An ancient horse-drawn two-wheeled vehicle used in war, races, and processions.




Cuirass

cui·rass (kwî-ràs¹) noun

A piece of armor for protecting the breast and back. a. The breastplate alone.



Dardanelles

Dar·da·nelles (där´dn-èlz¹)

Formerly Hel·les·pont (hèl¹î-spònt´)

A strait connecting the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara. In ancient times it was the scene of the legendary exploits of Hero and Leander.



Divisions

di·vi·sion (dî-vîzh¹en) noun

Abbr. div.

An administrative and tactical military unit that is smaller than a corps but is self-contained and equipped for prolonged combat activity.



Echeloned

ech·e·lon (èsh¹e-lòn´) noun

A formation of troops in which each unit is positioned successively to the left or right of

the rear unit to form an oblique or steplike line. a. A flight formation or arrangement of

craft in this manner. b. A similar formation of groups, units, or individuals.



Flotilla

flo·til·la (flo-tîl¹e) noun

A small fleet. a. A fleet of small craft.



Grooms

groom (gr¡m, gr¢m) noun

A man or boy employed to take care of horses.



Hoplites

hop·lite (hòp¹lìt´) noun

A heavily armed foot soldier of ancient Greece.



Howdah

how·dah also hou·dah (hou¹de) noun

A seat, usually fitted with a canopy and railing, placed on the back of an elephant or a camel.



HQ

HQ or h.q. or H.Q. abbreviation

Headquarters.



Infantry

in·fan·try (în¹fen-trê) noun

plural in·fan·tries

Abbr. inf., Inf.

The combat arm made up of units trained to fight on foot.



Mahouts

ma·hout (me-hout¹) noun

Keeper and driver of an elephant.



Mercenaries

mer·ce·nar·y (mûr¹se-nèr´ê) adjective

noun

plural mer·ce·nar·ies

A professional soldier hired for service in a foreign army.



Monsoon

mon·soon (mòn-s¡n¹) noun

1. A wind system that influences large climatic regions and reverses direction seasonally.

2. a. A wind from the southwest or south that brings heavy rainfall to southern Asia in the summer. b. The rain that accompanies this wind.



Outflanked

out·flank (out-flàngk¹) verb, transitive

out·flanked, out·flank·ing, out·flanks

To maneuver around and behind the flank of (an opposing force).



Pan-Hellenic

Pan-Hel·len·ic also Pan·hel·len·ic (pàn´he-lèn¹îk) adjective

Of or relating to all Greek peoples or a movement to unify them.



Phalanx

pha·lanx (fâ¹làngks´, fàl¹àngks´) noun

plural pha·lanx·es or pha·lan·ges (fe-làn¹jêz, fâ-)

A formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears, developed by

Philip II of Macedon and used by Alexander the Great.



Regiments

reg·i·ment (rèj¹e-ment) noun

Abbr. reg., regt.

A military unit of ground troops consisting of at least two battalions, usually commanded

by a colonel.



Retinue

ret·i·nue (rèt¹n-¡´, -y¡´) noun

The retainers or attendants accompanying a high-ranking person.



Rajah

ra·jah or ra·ja (rä¹je) noun

A prince, chief, or ruler in India or the East Indies.



Sarissas

A spear of Balkan origin used by the infantry.



Satraps

sa·trap (sâ¹tràp´, sàt¹ràp´) noun

A governor of a province in ancient Persia.



Scimitars

scim·i·tar (sîm¹î-ter, -tär´) noun

A curved Asian sword with the edge on the convex side.



Triremes

tri·reme (trì¹rêm´) noun

Nautical.

An ancient Greek or Roman galley or warship, having three tiers of oars on each side.



Vassalage

vas·sal·age (vàs¹e-lîj) noun

1. The condition of being a vassal.

2. The service, homage, and fealty required of a vassal.

3. A position of subordination or subjection; servitude.