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To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat. His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round. Cowley.

A soldier of light cavalry of the 16th century, who carried a demilance.

o was taught and armed to serve either on horseback or on foot; now, a mounted soldier; a cavalry man.

trument for marking time in martial music; one of the pair of tympani in an orchestra, or cavalry band. The drums cry bud-a-dub. Gascoigne.

and fight on foot; the infantry, usually designated as the foot, in distinction from the cavalry. "Both horse and foot." Milton.

To protect, as a line of troops, against an onset of cavalry, by opposing bayonets raised obliquely forward. Wilhelm.

One of a body of heavy cavalry. [Obs.] [France]

A small flag or streamer, as that carried by cavalry, which is broad at one end and nearly pointed at the other, or that used to direct the movements of a body of infantry, or to make signals at sea; also, the flag of a guild or fraternity. In the United States service, each company of cavalry has a guidon. The pendant…

er, esp. siege, garrison, and seacoast guns. (b) Troops which serve heavy guns. -- Heavy cavalry. See under Cavalry. -- Heavy fire (Mil.), a continuous or destructive cannonading, or discharge of small arms. -- Heavy metal (Mil.), large guns carrying balls of a large size; also, large balls for such guns. -- Heavy…

Mounted soldiery; cavalry; -- used without the plural termination; as, a regiment of horse; -- distinguished from foot. The armies were appointed, consisting of twenty-five thousand horse and foot. Bacon.

A body of cavalry so called; esp., a British regiment, called the Royal Horse Guards, which furnishes guards of state for the sovereign. The Horse Guards, a name given to the former headquarters of the commander in chief of the British army, at Whitehall in London.

A mounted soldier; a cavalryman.

Originally, one of the national cavalry of Hungary and Croatia; now, one of the light cavalry of European armies.

A body of soldiers serving on foot; foot soldiers, in distinction from cavalry.

ssier or cuirassiers; also, hardy veteran soldiers; -- applied specifically to Cromwell's cavalry.

responsibility without regard to party lines or deference to authority. -- Lance bucket (Cavalry), a socket attached to a saddle or stirrup strap, in which to rest the but of a lance. -- Lance corporal, same as Lancepesade. -- Lance knight, a lansquenet. B. Jonson. -- Lance snake (Zoöl.), the fer-de-lance. -- Stin…

a lance; especially, a member of a mounted body of men armed with lances, attached to the cavalry service of some nations. Wilhelm.

A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at different periods, -- from about four thousand to about six thousand men, -- the cavalry being about one tenth.

Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil. Light cavalry, Light horse (Mil.), light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses. -- Light eater, one who eats but little. -- Light infantry, infantry soldiers selected and trained for rapid evolutions. -- Light of foot. (a) Having a light step. (b) Fleet…

The regular infantry of an army, as distinguished from militia, guards, volunteer corps, cavalry, artillery, etc.