sepoy

noun

1. (formerly, in India) a native soldier, usually an infantryman, in the service of Europeans, especially of the British.

noun

1. (formerly) an Indian soldier in the service of the British

n.“native of India in British military service,” 1717, from Portuguese sipae, from Urdu sipahi, from Persian sipahi “soldier, horseman,” from sipah “army.” The Sepoy Mutiny was 1857-8.