In'fant-ry, n.

n. [Fr. infanterie, Sp. infantería, It. infanteria, fanteria, from Sp. infante, It. infante, fante, infant, child, boy, servant, foot-soldier, from Lat. infans, child, foot-soldiers being formerly the servants and followers of knights.] 1. A body of children. [Obs.] There's a schoolmaster Hangs all his school with his [Juvenal's] sentences, And o'er the execution-place hath painted Time whipped, for terror to the infantry. B. Jonson. 2. (Mil.) A body of soldiers serving on foot; foot-soldiers, in distinction from cavalry.