Yeomanry \Yeo"man*ry\, n.
1. The position or rank of a yeoman. [Obs.]
"His estate of
yeomanry." --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
2. The collective body of yeomen, or freeholders.
[1913 Webster]
The enfranchised yeomanry began to feel an instinct
for dominion. --Bancroft.
[1913 Webster]
3. A British volunteer cavalry force, growing out of a royal
regiment of fox hunters raised by Yorkshire gentlemen in
1745 to fight the Pretender, Charles Edward; -- calle
dalso yeomanry cavalry. The members furnish their own
horses, have fourteen days' annual camp training, and
receive pay and allowance when on duty. In 1901 the name
was altered to imperial yeomanry in recognition of the
services of the force in the Boer war. See Army
organization, above.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Yeomanry cavalry, certain bodies of volunteer cavalry
liable to service in Great Britain only. [Eng.]
[1913 Webster]
Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
|