Words & Phrases

Many of the words and phrases used on our web pages are no longer a part of the English language. They are "specialty" words needed to understand things or ideas common in the nineteenth century.

zouave
Pronunciation: zu-'äv
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Berber ZwAwa, Berber tribe
Date: 1830
1 : a member of a French infantry unit orig. composed of Algerians wearing a brilliant uniform and conducting a quick spirited drill
2 : a member of a military unit adopting the dress and drill of the Zouaves
Things French were much respected in the period before the war. In emulation of those French regiments who adopted Zouave dress for their service in North Africa, many units (North and South) wore uniforms designed in the same fashion. Commonly referred to as "Zu-Zus".

grenadier
Pronunciation: gren-&-'dir
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from grenade grenade
Date: 1676
1 : a soldier who carries and throws grenades b : a member of a special regiment or corps formerly armed with grenades

shako
Pronunciation: 'sha-(")kO, 'shA-, 'shä-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural shakos or shakoes
Etymology: French, from Hungarian csákó
Date: 1815
1 : a stiff military hat with a high crown and plume

neue riche
German equivalent of French "nouveau riche", "the newly rich", as opposed to the supposedly more cultured kind of person supported by old, family money.

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