Forms: α. 6 genys-, genez-, gianniz-, ienes-, ianess-, ianits-, ianitzarie, 6–7 genis-, ianis(s-, ianiz(z-, ienis-arie, 7 janazary, 7– janis(s-, janizary. β. 6 ianniz-, ianis-, giannizz-er, 6–7 ianizer(e, ianizar(e, 7–8 janisar, 7– janizar. γ. 8 yenesherre, 9 yanizari. [Ultimately ad. Turkish yeṅi-tsheri, f. yeṅi new, modern † tsheri soldiery, militia. Variously adopted in European langs., e.g., 15–16th c. Lat. Ienizari, Ianizari, It. ianizzero, giannizzero (pl. -eri), Sp., Pg. genizaro, janizaro, F. janissaire (in 15th c. jainusere), Ger. janitschar, Du. janitsaar. The Eng. forms reflect the L., It., Sp. or Fr. channels, through which they were derived; the attempt to represent the Turkish word directly was rare.]
1. One of a former body of Turkish infantry, constituting the Sultan’s guard and the main part of the standing army. The body was first organized in the 14th century, and was composed mainly of tributary children of Christians; after a large number of them had been massacred in 1826, the organization was finally abolished.
α. 1529. More, Dyaloge, IV. xv. X ij a/2. Mammolukes & genysaryes about ye turke and sowdeyn.
1562. Shute, Cambine’s Turk. Wars, 36 b. Upon the death of Mahomethe, the Gianizzaries marched with all spede to Constantinople.
1579. J. Jones, Preserv. Bodie & Soule, I. xxxix. 87. As his Ienesaries are instructed al too Heathenly.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xxiv. 65 b. The Sarail of the Azamoglans or Ianissaries.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589), 407. Being advertised … of the valure of a yong Ianitsarie. Ibid., 718. The Pretorian soldiours (who were to the emperours as the Ianitzaries are to the Turke).
1702. W. J., trans. Bruyn’s Voy. Levant, xxv. 107. The Janizaries … compos’d partly of Tributary Children, and partly of voluntary Renegades.
1717. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Pope, 12 Feb. We were met … by an aga of the janisaries.
1832. trans. Sismondi’s Ital. Rep., xi. 241. The new militia of the janissaries was, at the same time, the best infantry in Europe.
1866. Felton, Anc. & Mod. Gr., II. II. v. 343. The place called the At Midan is memorable in recent history for the slaughter of the janizaries.
β. a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 191 b. Thei were firste robbed of the Ianizeres, and … shamfully slain.
1572. W. Malim, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1599), II. I. 127. The Lieutenant of Mustafa, and the Aga of the Giannizzers.
1597. Bp. Hall, Sat., IV. iv. Then falls to praise the hardy Ianizar That sucks his horse side, thirsting in the war.
1598. Florio, Ianizzeri, the Turkes gard, Ianizers.
1713. Lond. Gaz., No. 5106/1. The Janisar Aga … went to the King.
1827. Shelley, Hellas, 240. The Janizars Clamour for pay.
γ. 1704. J. Pitts, Acc. Mohometans, 160. The Cull Ougles, that is, the Sons of the Yenesherres, or Soldiers.
2. By extension, any Turkish soldier; esp. one of an escort for travellers in the East.
1615. trans. De Monfart’s Surv. E. Indies, 3. Trauellers … become as poore wretched slaues, subject to all iniuries,… from which their very Ianizaries and Gardes, cannot alwayes defend them.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 83. He may go to Venice, where he may agree with a Janizary to conduct him in company of a Caravan all the way through the Continent of Greece as farre as Constantinople.
1775. Chandler, Trav. Asia M. (1825), I. 100. Our janizary was unwilling to go then.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., II. App. D i. The traveller whose janissary flogs them.
1847. Disraeli, Tancred, III. vi. Eva … mounted her horse;… before whom marched her janissary armed to the teeth.
3. In various allusive and figurative uses, from prec. senses.
a. 1565. Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 6. Such eloquence might better become some of your yonger Iannizers.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 32. Being not much behinde in the check-roule of his Ianissaries and contributories, with Eagle-soaring Bullingbrooke.
1663. Flagellum or O. Cromwell (1672), 145. Volleys of Acclamations, were given at the close of this mock solemnity, by Cromwel’s Janizaries.
1679. Establ. Test, 26. The Romish Janizaries are the tribute Children of all Europe.
1810. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 153. The shipping interest, commercial interest, and their janizaries of the navy, all fattening on war.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. vi. 581. The King had now at his command a body of Janissaries … ready to carry out his personal will.
b. 1612. T. Lavender, Trav. Four Englishm., Pref. C j b. The heauenly Ierusalem … Iesus Christ being our Pilot and Ienisarie to conduct vs thereunto.
1659. D. Pell, Impr. Sea, To Rdr. d iv, marg. Let this Epistle bee thy Janisary, or Pole-star to the perusal of this book.
4. attrib. and Comb.
1642. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., xvi. 121. Monks, Fryers, and Secular Priests, with his Janizary Jesuits.
1812. Sir R. Wilson, Priv. Diary, I. 123. Even under Janissary prejudice and despotism civilization is advancing.
Hence Janizaresque a., in the style of a Janizary.
1835. New Monthly Mag., XLV. 5. A most trenchant and janissaresque style of handling his cleaver.
