dragoon
dragoon — noun
- dragoonsingular
- dragoonsplural
1. In European armies from the 1600s to the 1800s, a soldier who fought both on foo
In European armies from the 1600s to the 1800s, a soldier who fought both on foot and while riding a horse, and who carried a gun such as a musket or carbine.
The museum displayed a dragoon's uniform from the Franco-Prussian War, with a heavy riding boot.
historical context: dragoon's uniform, 19th-century war
Romi gazed at a painting of a dragoon charging across a muddy field.
A troop of dragoons rode into the village square, their sabres glinting in the sun.
Ignacio dressed as a dragoon for the costume parade, complete with a toy carbine.
- cavalryman
generic term for any soldier who fights on horseback; dragoon is a specific historical subtype
- hussar
a light cavalry soldier, distinct from the heavier-armed dragoon
- mounted infantry
soldiers who ride horses to travel but dismount to fight; dragoons were the original mounted infantry
文法句型
a dragoon
the dragoons
Dragoon Regiment
用法筆記
Today the word is almost exclusively historical. Modern cavalry use the term only in ceremonial unit names, e.g. 'the Royal Canadian Dragoons'.
常見錯誤
dragoon — verb
- dragoonpresent simple I / you / we / they
- dragoons3rd person singular
- dragooning-ing form
- dragoonedpast simple
1. to force a group of people to obey by sending armed troops to threaten or harm t
to force a group of people to obey by sending armed troops to threaten or harm them, especially as a tactic of political or religious persecution.
In the 1680s the French king dragooned Protestant villages until the residents converted.
historical reference: 1680s French persecution of Protestants
The regime dragooned the rebel province by stationing troops in every town.
Chidi read how the king's men dragooned the highland clans into submission.
The general dragooned the village, forcing every family to house a soldier.
- liberate
to set free from oppression
文法句型
dragoon [someone] into [doing something]
be dragooned into [something]
用法筆記
This is the original verb sense, directly derived from the historical use of dragoon soldiers. It is less common today than the more general sense of coercing someone (sense 2). Often appears in historical or political writing.
2. to make someone do something they strongly do not want to do, by using pressure,
to make someone do something they strongly do not want to do, by using pressure, threats, or very forceful persuasion.
Saira was dragooned into giving the speech because she was terrified of public speaking.
passive: be dragooned into + gerund
The coach dragooned the whole team into attending extra practice on Saturday morning.
Shirin felt her parents had dragooned her into studying law instead of art.
The manager dragooned Jack into organising the office party against his will.
- coerce
more formal, implies threats; dragoon adds a sense of bullying relentlessness
- bully
less formal, focuses on intimidation rather than systematic pressure
- force
the most general word; dragoon implies a longer, more persistent effort
- strong-arm
informal, suggests physical intimidation or heavy pressure
文法句型
dragoon [someone] into [doing something]
用法筆記
This is the more common modern verb sense. Unlike sense 1, it does not require soldiers or military force — the pressure can come from anyone in authority. The construction 'dragoon someone into doing something' is the standard pattern.