a. and sb. Also 5 combataunt, 6 cambatand, 7 cumbatant, 6– combattant (now only in Her.). [a. OF. combatant (mod.F. combatt-), pr. pple. of combattre to COMBAT, already in 12th c. used as sb.]
A. adj. Fighting, contending in fight, ready to fight. In Mil. usage, Combatant officer: an officer who takes part in active fighting, as distinguished from the non-combatant officers of the medical or the commissariat staff.
1632. B. Jonson, Magn. Lady, III. iv. Their valours are not yet so combatant, Or truly antagonistic, as to fight.
1791. Paine, Rights of Man (ed. 4), 114. The separate head-quarters of two combatant armies.
1868. Regul. & Ord. Army, ¶ 301. The Senior Combatant Officer must preside.
b. Her. Rampant with the fore-paws raised as if in fight; generally said of two lions, etc., rampant and facing each other (affronté). (Frequently spelt as mod.F. combattant.)
c. 1500. Sc. Poem Her., 134 in Q. Eliz. Acad. (1869), 98. First, a lionne [statant]; on-vthir, lyone rampand … And the xv cambatand [ed. note combatand].
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 48. Twoo Apes Circopetikes combattante.
1677. F. Sandford, Genealog. Hist. Eng., 73. His Arms were Two Lions Cumbatant.
1850. W. D. Cooper, Winchelsea, 39. [A seal] bearing the impression of a lion combatant or rampant.
1864. Boutell, Heraldry Hist. & Pop., x. 58. Two Lions Combattant are now borne by the Viscount Lorton.
B. sb. One who combats, a fighter, warrior; in early use, esp. one who fought in single combat.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. i. 3. Chaton the vayllaunt combataunt or fyghtar.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., II. iii. 95. Sound Trumpets, Alarum to the Combattants.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 719. So frownd the mighty Combatants.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scotl. in 1772, 123. In the duel … each combattant fell.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. i. 9. The combatants in the great eighty years war.
b. in Her. ‘A figure drawn like a sword-player standing upon his guard’ (Bailey, Folio, 1736).
c. fig.
1646. H. Lawrence, Comm. Angells, 106. This text tells you you have anothir kinde of combatant.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 162. Much learned dust Involves the combatants; each claiming Truth.
1880. L. Stephen, Pope, v. 134. Amongst the most effective combatants against dulness.
d. attrib. (blending with the adj.)
1885. Pall Mall G., 29 June, 2/1. The combatant operations of the Royal navy.
1887. Daily News, in Nov., 5/4. Those who hold combatant rank.
