janissary: Meaning and Definition of

jan•is•sar•y

Pronunciation: ( jan'u-ser"ē), [key]
— pl. -sar•ies.
  1. (often cap.) a member of an elite military unit of the Turkish army organized in the 14th century and abolished in 1826 after it revolted against the Sultan.
  2. (often cap.) any soldier in the Turkish army.
  3. a member of any group of loyal guards, soldiers, or supporters.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: