Obs. [a. OF. fanterie, ad. It. fanteria f. fante foot-soldier (literally boy, short for infante = INFANT; cf. FAUNT).] Infantry; pl. foot-soldiers.
a. 1577. Gascoigne, The Fruits of Warre, clii., in Wks. (1587), 146.
| And yet to weake to keepe in warlike wise, | |
| Fiue other bandes of English Fanteries, | |
| Were therein set for to defend the same, | |
| And them they chargde for to beginne the game. |
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 128. And so forward to the Varetates, who vnder their King keepe no Elephants at all for his seruice, trusting vpon their Cauallery and Fanterie, wherein they are strong.
