n.
- a person who serves in an army.
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(also common soldier or private soldier)
a private in an army.
- Entomology a wingless caste of ant or termite with a large modified head and jaws, involved chiefly in defence.
- Brit. informal a strip of bread or toast, dipped into a soft-boiled egg.
- an upright brick, timber, or other building element.
v.
- serve as a soldier.
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(soldier on)
informal persevere.
Derivative
- soldierly adj.
- soldiership n. (archaic).
Etymology
ME: from OFr. soldier, from soulde ‘(soldier's) pay’, from L. solidus (see solidus).