Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a member of a British regiment formerly armed with fusils.
noun
- (formerly) an infantryman armed with a light musket
- Also: fusileer
- a soldier, esp a private, serving in any of certain British or other infantry regiments
- (pl; cap. when part of a name)the Royal Welch Fusiliers
1670s, “soldier armed with a musket,” from French fusilier, from Old French fusil “musket,” earlier “steel for a tinderbox,” from Vulgar Latin *focilis (petra) “(stone) producing fire,” from Latin focus “hearth,” in Vulgar Latin “fire” (see focus (n.)). Retained by certain regiments of the British army that were formerly armed with fusils.