English

Alternative forms

• janisary, janizary

Noun

janissary ‎(plural janissaries)

1. An elite, highly loyal supporter.
2. A soldier in a former elite Turkish guard.

Quotations

• 1788, Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers, Federalist No. 67 -- The Executive Department:

  We have been taught to tremble at the terrific visages of murdering janizaries, and to blush at the unveiled mysteries of a future seraglio.

Derived terms

• janissary music

Translations

See also

• Miles Christi