cavalry
Definitions
Soldiers who fight on horseback; in modern armies, the branch using armored or fast vehicles
骑兵，骑兵部队；在现代军队中指使用装甲车或快速车辆的兵种
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcaval (horse, from Latin caballus via Italian cavallo) + -ry (a body or collection) = a body of horsemen. The mounted soldiers were the fast, striking arm of the old army. When the horse gave way to the tank, the name stayed: an armored cavalry unit still 'rides' into battle.
Root caballus still carries 6 more wordsUsage Guide
Often used figuratively: 'the cavalry arrives' means help shows up at the last moment, like a rescue in an old Western. Don't confuse the spelling with Calvary (the hill of the Crucifixion) — cavalry has the 'a' before the 'l' (c-a-v-a-l).
Example Sentences
- 1.
The cavalry charged across the open field at dawn.
- 2.
He served in an armored cavalry unit during the war.
- 3.
Just when we were losing, reinforcements arrived like the cavalry.
Easily Confused
cavalry vs Calvary — pure spelling trap. cavalry (CAV-al-ry) = horse soldiers, from caballus 'horse.' Calvary = the hill where Christ was crucified, from Latin calvaria 'skull.' Same letters rearranged, totally unrelated.