Pioneer (military) - History of The Word

History of The Word

The word pioneer is originally from France.

The word (French: pionnier) was borrowed into English, from Old French pionnier, which meant a "foot soldier", from the root 'peon' recorded in 1523. It was used in a military sense as early as 1626–1627. In the late 18th century Captain George Smith defined the term as:

PIONEERS, in war-time, are such as are commanded in from the country, to march with an army, for mending the ways, for working on entrenchments, fortifications, and for making mines and approaches: the soldiers are likewise employed in all these things. Most of the foreign regiments of artillery have half a company of pioneers, well instructed in that important branch of duty. Our regiments of infantry and cavalry have 3 or 4 pioneers each, provided with aprons, hatchets, saws, spades, and pick-axes.

Read more about this topic:  Pioneer (military)

Famous quotes containing the words history and/or word:

    There is no example in history of a revolutionary movement involving such gigantic masses being so bloodless.
    Leon Trotsky (1879–1940)

    Give us that grand word “woman” once again,
    And let’s have done with “lady”; one’s a term
    Full of fine force, strong, beautiful, and firm,
    Fit for the noblest use of tongue or pen;
    And one’s a word for lackeys.
    Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1855–1919)