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A.Word.A.Day--janissary

janissary (JAN-i-ser-ee) also janizary (-ZER-ee) noun

1. A member of a group of elite, highly loyal supporters.
2. A soldier in an elite Turkish guard organized in the 14th century and abolished in 1826.

[French janissaire, from Old French jehanicere, from Old Italian giannizero, from Ottoman Turkish yani cheri, new army : yani, new + cheri, special troops (from Middle Persian cherih, bravery, victory, from cher, brave, victorious, from Avestan chairya-, vigorous, brave).]

"Their duty is to add to the status of the place they serve; decorative janissaries, at least as cool as any potential customer and rather more so in most cases, including mine."
Ian Jack; Bouncers in Prada Make Service Fashionable; The Independent (London, UK); Sep 18, 1999.

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