Yeo"man*ry (?), n.

1.

The position or rank of a yeoman.

[Obs.] "His estate of yeomanry."

Chaucer.

2.

The collective body of yeomen, or freeholders.

The enfranchised yeomanry began to feel an instinct for dominion. Bancroft.

3.

The yeomanry cavalry.

[Eng.]

Yeomanry cavalry, certain bodies of volunteer cavalry liable to service in Great Britain only. [Eng.]

 

© Webster 1913.


Yeo"man*ry, n.

A British volunteer cavalry force, growing out of a royal regiment of fox hunters raised by Yorkshire gentlemen in 1745 to fight the Pretender, Charles Edward. The members furnish their own horses, have fourteen days' annual camp training, and receive pay and allowance when on duty. In 1901 the name was altered to imperial yeomanry in recognition of the services of the force in the Boer war. See Army organization, above.

 

© Webster 1913