Partizan

2 definitions found

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

  Partisan \Par"ti*san\ (p[aum]r"t[i^]*zan), n. [F., fr. It.
     partigiano. See {Party}, and cf. {Partisan} a truncheon.]
     [Written also {partizan}.]
     1. An adherent to a party or faction; esp., one who is
        strongly and passionately devoted to a party or an
        interest. "The violence of a partisan." --Macaulay.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              Both sides had their partisans in the colony.
                                                    --Jefferson.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Mil.)
        (a) The commander of a body of detached light troops
            engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy.
        (b) Any member of such a corps.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  partizan
       adj : devoted to a cause or party [syn: {partisan}] [ant: {nonpartisan}]
       n 1: an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or
            activity [syn: {enthusiast}, {partisan}]
       2: a pike with a long tapering double-edged blade with lateral
          projections; 16th and 17th centuries [syn: {partisan}]