bashi-bazouk

bashi-bazouk
/bash'ee beuh zoohk"/, n.
(formerly) one of a class of irregular mounted troops in the Turkish military service.
[1850-55; < Turk basi-bozuk civilian, irregular, orig., leaderless, not attached (to a regular military unit), lit., (one) whose head (is) broken]

* * *

▪ Ottoman soldier
Turkish  Başibozuk 

      (“corrupted head,” or “leaderless”), mercenary soldier belonging to the skirmishing or irregular troops of the Ottoman Empire, notorious for their indiscipline, plundering, and brutality. Originally describing the homeless beggars who reached Istanbul from the provinces of the Ottoman Empire, the term bashi-bazouk was later applied to all Muslim subjects who were not members of the armed forces. Finally it was applied to units of irregular volunteers (both infantry and cavalry) attached to the army but under independent officers and providing their own weapons and horses. These forces became notorious for their lawlessness. They appeared at the end of the 18th century and fought in Egypt against Napoleon. During the Crimean War the allied generals made fruitless attempts to discipline them. Their excesses during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 at last forced the Ottoman government to abandon their use.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • bashi-bazouk — [bash΄ē bə zo͞ok′] n. [Turk bashi bozuq < bashi, head + bozuq, disorderly, unkempt] a member of the notoriously brutal 19th cent. Turkish irregulars …   English World dictionary

  • Bashi-bazouk — Bash i ba*zouk (b[a^]sh [i^]*b[.a]*z[=oo]k ), n. [Turkish, light headed, a foolish fellow.] A soldier belonging to the irregular troops of the Turkish army. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bashi-bazouk — A bashi bazouk or bashibazouk (Turkish başıbozuk , damaged head , meaning leaderless , disorderly ) was an irregular soldier of the Ottoman army. They were noted for their lack of discipline. Although Turkish armies always contained bashi bazouk… …   Wikipedia

  • bashi-bazouk — bashi ba·zouk …   English syllables

  • Bashi-bazouk (disambiguation) — A bashi bazouk was an irregular soldier of the Ottoman army. The term may also refer to one of the following.* Bashi bazouk is a common oath uttered by Captain Haddock in comic book series The Adventures of Tintin * Bashi Bazouk is the name of a… …   Wikipedia

  • bashi-bazouk — noun An irregular soldier of the Ottoman army …   Wiktionary

  • bashi-bazouk —   n. Turkish mercenary soldier …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • bashi-bazouk — ˌbashēbəˈzük noun ( s) Etymology: Turkish başı bozuk irregular soldier, from baş head, leader + bozuk depraved, corrupt 1. a. : a member of an irregular ill disciplined auxiliary of the Ottoman Empire b. : irregular …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bashi-Bazoukery — Baˈshi Bazoukˈery noun • • • Main Entry: ↑Bashi Bazouk …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bachi-bouzouk — Bashi Bazouk Chieftain by Jean Léon Gérôme, French. Oil, 1881 …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”