janissary

/-səɹi/

IPA: /JH AE1 N IH0 S EH0 R IY0/

noun

1
An infantry soldier, often of Christian descent and forcibly converted to Islam, in a former elite Turkish (Ottoman) guard (disbanded in 1826); by extension, any Turkish soldier, particularly one escorting a traveller.
2
An elite, highly loyal supporter.

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