1. a soldier armed with a pistol, especially a mounted soldier or cavalryman
Usage: historical; often used in reference to 16th–18th century military forces

Examples

• The regiment of pistoliers charged across the battlefield on horseback.
• During the Thirty Years' War, pistoliers became an important part of cavalry tactics.
• The commander deployed his pistoliers to flank the enemy infantry.
• Pistoliers were trained to fire their weapons while riding at full gallop.
• The armor of a pistolier was lighter than that of a traditional knight.