Footslogger

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A soldier who travels and fights primarily by walking rather than riding or being transported
2. An infantry soldier who covers ground by marching on foot as part of military operations
3. A foot soldier engaged in combat or military campaigns conducted by walking and ground movement

Etymology: "Footslogger" is a compound of "foot" and "slogger," the latter from "slog," a verb meaning to trudge or plod through difficult going. Put together, the word names a soldier who marches on foot rather than riding a horse or travelling by vehicle, a figure who is defined by the grinding, unglamorous nature of the work. The word's appeal lies in how plainly it describes its subject. The "slogger" element carries the sense of persistent, heavy effort, so a footslogger is someone whose job is endurance over distance, mud and weight of kit rather than speed or dash. Its use in military contexts has tended to set the infantryman apart from cavalry and mounted troops, who traditionally held more prestige.

Synonyms: infantryman, foot soldier, grunt