Hypaspist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of elite infantryman in ancient Greek armies who acted as a shield-bearer and fought close to the phalanx
2. A soldier from classical Greece equipped to protect and support the main battle lines as a heavily armored footman
3. A warrior in Greek military history known for carrying a shield and serving in an important combat role near the center of the formation

Etymology: The hypaspists were elite infantrymen of the ancient Greek armies, and their name is a compound built from pieces that each carry a clear picture. "Hupo" means "under" and "aspis" means "shield," the large round shield that gave the Greek hoplite his name. Add the agent suffix "-tes," which marks a person who performs an action, and the result is literally "one who bears a shield from under" or, more simply, a shield-bearer. The name points to a role that was more specific than it sounds. In the Macedonian and Hellenistic armies, the hypaspists were picked troops who fought close to the king or commander, and the term described a position within the army rather than a generic servant carrying equipment. The English word arrived as a direct borrowing from Greek, so it keeps the original compound intact, with each element still traceable to its source.