Obs. Also 7 soldatt, soldate. [a. F. soldat: see SOLDADO.] A soldier.
α. 1584. Hudson, Du Bartas Judith, 452. Alarm, soldats, alarme.
1591. Jas. I., Lepanto, 664. There a Chieftaine shrillie cries, And Soldats doth command.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 127. Within the Castle wall are raisd a hundred houses, stored with men, most part soldatts.
1667. R. LEstrange, Vis. Quev., 144. Every little Whore takes upon her to be a Great Lady. Every Huffe to be a Soldat.
β. 1652. Roxb. Ball. (1891), VII. 479. A Soldate on a bench sleeping.
1662. J. Wilson, Cheats, IV. iv. By the faith of a Soldate, and a man of Arms, I will.