1. (in the past) soldiers who fought on horseback: "the cavalry charged up the hill"Similarmounted troopscavalrymenhorse soldierstroopershorsedragoonslancershussarscarabineerscuirassierssabreurs
▪ modern soldiers who fight in armored vehicles: "a cavalry regiment"
▪ used to refer to a source of help or rescue in an emergency, especially as a last resort:"she said she wouldn't be sending in the cavalry to sort out the country's problems"Similarrescuersaviorliberatorknight in shining armorknight on a white chargerr
Word Originmid 16th century: from French cavallerie, from Italian cavalleria, from cavallo ‘horse’, from Latin caballus.
