Zouave

1 definition found

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

  Zouave \Zouave\ (?; 277), n. [F., fr. Ar. Zouaoua a tribe of
     Kabyles living among the Jurjura mountains in Algeria.]
     (Mil.)
     (a) One of an active and hardy body of soldiers in the French
         service, originally Arabs, but now composed of Frenchmen
         who wear the Arab dress.


     (b) Hence, one of a body of soldiers who adopt the dress and
         drill of the Zouaves, as was done by a number of
         volunteer regiments in the army of the United States in
         the Civil War, 1861-65.
         [1913 Webster]