Tirailleur

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tirailleur \Ti`rail`leur"\, n. [F., from tirailler to skirmish,
     wrest, from tirer to draw.] (Mil.)
     Formerly, a member of an independent body of marksmen in the
     French army. They were used sometimes in front of the army to
     annoy the enemy, sometimes in the rear to check his pursuit.
     The term is now applied to all troops acting as skirmishers.


     [1913 Webster]