Military Vocabulary

legion (largest number, 6000)

cohort, regiment (tenth part of legion)

squadron (of cavalry)

company (of infantry, 200 men)

infantrymen

infantry (collective)

cavalry (riders)

cavalry (collective)

army in battle order or line

army in marching order or column

those of military age (collective)

those of military age

light-armed troops (collective)

troops ready for battle

heavy-armed troops

archers

slingers

scouts

recruits

veterans

reserves

reinforcements

auxiliary forces (allies & light-armed troops)

a large force

a small force

the flower of the troops

camp followers

non-commissioned officers (sergeants, etc)

captains

colonels

officers, general's staff

commander of cavalry

general of division

commander-in-chief

the command-in-chief

to appoint someone to chief command

to give someone command of legion

to be at the head of a legion

tenth part of turma (squadron)

to take up arms

to make ready for battle

to be under arms

to lay down arms

to throw away arms

by force of arms

missiles

shower of missiles

to discharge, shoot

to return fire

within range

out of range

to draw a sword

to sheath a sword

helmet

shield

breastplate

sword

javelin

to enlist men

to hold a levy

to take the oath of allegiance

to serve a campaign

to serve five years

to review an army

to disband

discharged (honourably)

to avoid military service

a deserter

to desert

mutiny

mutinous

to choose a site for a camp

to choose a site for a camp (2)

to pitch camp

to strike camp

to leave camp undefended

to remain inactive in camp

winter quarters

summer quarters

sentinels

to be on guard, keep watch

watchword

pickets

rampart

to raise a rampart

trench

to make a trench

the vanguard

the rearguard

to set out

to march

forced march

to advance

with closed ranks, in order of war

to bring up the rear

to build a road

to have one's passage barred

to stop marching

to change one's route, wheel

to halt

to station pickets at intervals

to reconnoitre

to cut off stragglers

to climb hill

to transport an army over a river

baggage

baggage animals

to proclaim war

to make war upon

to wage war (with cum)

to prolong, drag on

to begin war

to finish war

to renew the war

to conduct a war

to act on the defensive

to rebel, revolt (with ab.)

war materials (sing.)

war materials (plural)

supplies (sing.)

corn

corn supply

to forage

to get corn

to cut off the enemy's supplies

to cut off the enemy's supplies (2)

to look after corn supplies

to look after corn supplies (2)

to procure supplies

there are supplies in abundance

abundance of provisions

to make an invasion, inroad

to ravage with fire and sword

to plunder, carry off (inanimate things)

to plunder, carry off (cattle)

to lay waste the country

to subjugate

to keep in submission

to remain in submission

submit

to engage

to fight at a distance

to fight at close quarters, hand to hand

to fight on foot

to fight on horseback

a skirmish

a cavalry engagement

a battle fought near Cannae

to fight a pitched battle

to fight a pitched battle (2)

to fight a drawn battle

to fight a drawn battle (2)

to fight a losing battle

to fight a decisive battle

the battle lasted till late in the day

to win a fight

to lose a fight

an indecisive battle

a favourable battle

an adverse battle

to be superior in numbers

to be inferior in numbers

to offer battle to the enemy

to provoke to battle

to provoke to battle (2)

to decline battle

to give the signal to engage

to draw up forces in battle order

to draw up forces in battle order (2)

to extend the line, deploy

to muster

to harangue the men

to encourage, embolden the men

to attack

to attack the enemy in front

to attack the enemy in the rear

to charge

to charge at full speed

to charge at a gallop

to resist a charge

to come to close quarters

to come to close quarters (2)

to make an obstinate resistance

to repulse the enemy

the line wavers

to form a square

with close, serried ranks

to break through the enemy's centre

to dislodge

to renew the struggle

to restore the fortunes of the day

to send up reserves

fresh troops

relieve, help the tired men

to be hard pressed

to leave the ranks

in a critical condition

Printer Friendly Version