[F., agent-n. f. voltiger to flutter, hover, vault, etc.] Formerly in the French army, a member of a special skirmishing company attached to each regiment of infantry.
1807. Hist. Europe, in Ann. Reg., 25/1. They were received at the mouth of the musket by the voltigeurs. [Note. Sharp-shooters, or marksmen, mounted on horseback, whose business it is to hover around the enemy,… and annoy him (etc.).]
1827. Southey, Hist. Penins. War, III. 430. The enemy’s chasseurs and voltigeurs advanced in considerable bodies under General Lorset.
attrib. 1805. James, Milit. Dict. (ed. 2), s.v., They submitted to a long … training, before they were admitted in the voltigeur companies.
1824. De Quincey, Pol. Econ. Dial., vi. Misc. (1854), 259. Go on,… and skirmish with him a little more in this voltigeur style.
transf. 1809. W. Irving, Knickerb. (1861), 221. The Van Bunschotens. would have been put to utter rout but for the arrival of a gallant corps of voltigeurs.
1817. Keatinge, Trav., I. 155. The most active and habituated voltigeurs of the community … contrive to anticipate, and font main basse on whatever can be found.
