Forms: α. 6 souldiary, 6–7 -iarie; 6–7 souldiourie (7 -ioury, -iorie); 6–7 souldierie, -iery (7 soulgiery), 7 sould(e)rie, -ery. β. 6 soldiorie, -iourie, 6–7 -iarie; 7– soldiery. [f. SOLDIER sb. + -Y, or ad. OF. souderie, soud-, souldoierie, etc.]
1. Soldiers collectively; the military; a military class or body.
1570. Levins, Manip., 106/2. Soldiourie, militia.
1580. Sidney, Let. Q. Eliz., Misc. Wks. (1829), 245. Of the most popular nation of the world, full of soldiery, and such as used to serve without pay.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 54. The Souldiery … all flockt unto him.
1678. Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, V. ii. § 11. 469/2. Leo, a Thracian, elected [Emperor] by the joint consent of Senate and Souldiery.
1745. Wesley, Wks. (1872), VIII. 173. Do the soldiery walk as those who see themselves on the brink of eternity?
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xvii. These mercenaries were, of course, a fierce and rapacious soldiery.
1872. E. W. Robertson, Hist. Ess., Introd. p. xix. The fighting men grew more and more into a soldiery, or a class following the profession of arms for pay.
2. Military training; knowledge or science of military matters.
1579. Digges, Stratiot., 140. Sundry other principall poyntes of Souldiourie.
1590. Sir J. Smythe, Disc. Weapons, Ded. 13. Vnder the pretence of souldiorie, and warlike Discipline.
1620. J. Ford, Line Life (1843), 56. That were … to read a Lecture of souldierie to Hannibal, the most cunningest warriour of his time.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., i. (1690), 17. For Training and Drilling is a small part of Soldiery, in respect of this last mentioned Qualification.
1738. Gentl. Mag., VIII. 204/1. If a Genius had attempted to write on such a Subject as Soldiery.
1901. ‘Linesman,’ Words by Eyewitness, iii. (1902), 53. Waiting in the truest spirit of soldiery.
3. attrib., as soldiery custom, discipline, etc.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, II. i. 24. To bring our people to more perfection in soldiarie points.
1643. Trapp, Comm. Gen. xxiv. 9. According to a Souldery custome in cases of extremity.
1658. Cokaine, Trappolin, I. i. I should never digest the souldiery life.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., I. § 36 (1716), 42. The Heroical vein of Mankind runs much in the Souldiery, and couragious part of the World.
1798. W. Hutton, Family of Hutton, 98. Some soldiery jokes ensued, when our trooper dismounted, and cast a large stone with design to splash her.
