Hypaspists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A category of ancient Greek light infantry soldiers known for their agility and skill in battle
2. A group of elite troops in the Macedonian army, often part of the phalanx, recognized for their mobile fighting tactics
3. Lightly armored fighters in antiquity who provided support and flexibility on the battlefield, typically in a supporting role to heavier troops

Etymology: The most striking thing about "hypaspists" is how literally it describes its job: in Ancient Greek, a "hypaspistes" was someone who carried a shield beneath or behind another, the "hupó" meaning "under" joined to "aspis," the round shield that gave the Greek hoplite his name. The "-tes" ending marks a person who performs an action, so the whole compound means something like "shield-bearer" or "one who bears the shield under." The plural form, "hypaspists," is the English rendering of the Greek plural, and it names a specific class of soldiers rather than shield carriers in general. These were lightly armored troops in ancient armies, most famously associated with Macedonian forces, who fought alongside heavier infantry and were valued for their adaptability on the battlefield. The name stayed closely tied to the shield that defined the heavier fighters they supported, so a soldier's identity in the ranks was described by the equipment he carried for someone else.