soldier

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsəʊldʒə/

noun

  • 1a person who serves in an army.
  • (also common soldier or private soldier) a private in an army.
  • 2 Entomology a wingless caste of ant or termite with a large specially modified head and jaws, involved chiefly in defence.
  • 3British informal a strip of bread or toast, used for dipping into a soft-boiled egg.
  • 4 [usually as modifier] an upright brick, timber, or other building element.

verb

[no object]
  • 1serve as a soldier: (as noun soldiering) soldiering was what the Colonel understood
  • 2 (soldier on) informal carry on doggedly; persevere: Graham wasn’t enjoying this, but he soldiered on

Derivatives

soldierly

adjective

soldiership

noun ( archaic)

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French soldier, from soulde '(soldier's) pay', from Latin solidus (see solidus). The verb dates from the early 17th century