halberdier
(hælbəˈdɪə(r))
Also 6 holbarder, hal-, holberder, halberdear, 6–8 halbard(i)er, 7 halbertere, -tier, halbeerter, holberteer, 7–8 halberdeer, -teer, 8–9 halbadier, 9 hallebardier.
[a. OF. hale-, hallebardier (= Sp. alabardero, It. alabardiere), f. halebard halberd: see -ier.]
A soldier armed with a halberd; spec. a member of certain civic guards carrying a halberd as a badge of office.
| 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 227 Horsemen, besyde a great number of Lanceknightes and Halberders. 1589 P. Ive Instruct. 73 The Halbardiers maye also fight better in a prease then the Pikemen. 1589 Pasquil's Ret. B b, The big bodied Holberders that guarde her Maiestie. 1621 G. Sandys Ovid's Met. v. (1626) 9 Yet Perseus would not venture to inuade The Halbertere Eritheus with his blade. 1649 C. Walker Hist. Independ. ii. 87 The King was brought to the Bar by Colonell Hacker with Halberdeers. 1684 Lond. Gaz. No. 1956/4 Several Constables, Holberteers and Inhabitants waited their coming. 1760–72 tr. Juan & Ulloa's Voy. (ed. 3) II. 49 The company of halbadiers bringing up the rear. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 4 The royal coach, escorted by an army of halberdiers. |
Hence halberˈdiered a., attended by halberdiers.
| a 1882 R. Christison Autobiog. (1885) I. ii. 33 The Town Council of the city, robed and halberdiered, walked from the gate to the hall. |