noun
- Plural of pistolier; soldiers or cavalry armed with pistols, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Usage: historical; often used in military contexts
Examples
- The regiment of pistoliers charged across the battlefield with their weapons drawn.
- During the Thirty Years' War, pistoliers formed an important part of cavalry units.
- The commander deployed his pistoliers to flank the enemy infantry.
- Pistoliers were trained to fire their weapons while mounted on horseback.