Meaning of spahi | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An Ottoman (Turkish empire) cavalryman, especially as recruited under a land-based system.
2. A soldier in a mainly Arab-recruited cavalry (originally horse, later light armored) regiment in French colonial service in (former/ in name still) Ottoman North African provinces.

Equivalents

Examples

“2001, Orhan Pamuk, My Name Is Red, tr. Erdağ M Göknar I hear that the great Sadiki Bey illustrated a copy of Strange Creatures, commissioned by an Uzbek spahi cavalryman, for only forty gold pieces.”

“TARZAN’S first mission did not bid fair to be either exciting or vastly important. There was a certain lieutenant of spahis whom the government had reason to suspect of improper relations with a great European power.”

CEFR level