Soldier

Soldier, sōl′jėr, n. a man engaged in military service: a private, as distinguished from an officer: a man of much military experience or of great valour: a soldier-ant, beetle, hermit-crab, &c.: (slang) a red herring.—v.i. to serve as a soldier: to bully: to shirk one's work or duty: (slang) to take a mount on another man's horse.—ns. Sol′dier-crab, a hermit-crab; Sol′diering, the state of being a soldier: the occupation of a soldier.—adjs. Sol′dier-like, Sol′dierly, like a soldier: martial: brave.—ns. Sol′dier-of-for′tune, one ready to serve anywhere for pay or his own advancement; Sol′diership, state or quality of being a soldier: military qualities: martial skill; Sol′diery, soldiers collectively: the body of military men; Fresh′water-sol′dier, the Stratiotes aloides, a European aquatic plant with sword-shaped leaves.—Come the old soldier over one, to impose on any one.—Old soldier, a bottle emptied at a sitting: a cigar-stump. [O. Fr. soldier (Fr. soldat)—L. solidus, a piece of money, the pay of a soldier.]