from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Yeomanry \Yeo"man*ry\, n.
1. The position or rank of a yeoman. [Obs.] "His estate of
yeomanry." --Chaucer.
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2. The collective body of yeomen, or freeholders.
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The enfranchised yeomanry began to feel an instinct
for dominion. --Bancroft.
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3. 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; -- calle
dalso {yeomanry cavalry}. 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 Suppl.]
{Yeomanry cavalry}, certain bodies of volunteer cavalry
liable to service in Great Britain only. [Eng.]
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