Also 6–7 souldado, 9 erron. soldada. [Sp. (and Pg.), = It. soldato (whence F. soldat), f. soldo (Sp. sueldo) military pay: see SOLD sb.1]
1. A soldier. Also attrib.
1586. J. Hooker, Hist. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 105/2. This roisting Rutterkin wholie then standing on the soldado hoigh.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, Wks. (Grosart), XI. 247. To be terrible like a warrior and a Soldado.
1612. Chapman, Widdowes T., V. i. [Will] No bootie serue you sir Soldado But my poore sister?
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 142. Seizing it by Force with Three Files of Soldadoes.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, ii. Neither Wallenstein nor Pappenheim … would likely listen to the objurgations of boors or burghers against any commander or soldado.
1840. Hor. Smith, ed. Oliver Cromwell, I. 268. Sad-visaged and morose soldadoes, in suits of buff tarnished and soiled by service.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., II. ii. 135–6. The otherwise single-minded and honourable soldado.
2. The South American heron.
1852. Th. Ross, trans. Humboldt’s Trav., II. xx. 255. On the summits of those [rocks] situated near the Orinoco, flamingos, soldados, and other fishing-birds perch.
3. The squirrel-fish (Holocentrus ascensionis) of the West Indies, etc. (Webster’s Suppl., 1902.)
