Voltigeurs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A specific type of light infantry, particularly in the French army, known for their mobility and skirmishing capabilities
2. Troops trained to engage in rapid maneuvers and irregular combat, often seen in historical military contexts
3. A class of soldiers, typically elite, recognized for their agility and effectiveness in tackling enemy forces through unconventional tactics

Etymology: "Voltigeurs" is the plural of "voltigeur," a word English borrowed from French, where it names a light infantry soldier. The French noun comes from "voltiger," meaning "to vault" or to leap about nimbly, which in turn traces to Italian "volteggiare," a verb of the same sense. Behind these lies the Italian and Latin idea of turning, since the verb is tied to "volta," a turn, and the same family gave English "volt" in the sense of a tread or turn in fencing and riding. The name fits the job. These were troops trained to move quickly and fight in loose, scattered formations rather than in the rigid lines of conventional infantry, so a word meaning "one who vaults about" described them well. The plural form follows the French pattern, which is why English speakers encounter the "-s" ending on a word that is itself a borrowed noun.