A force serving on land; a military as opposed to a naval force. Also pl. the troops or soldiers composing such a force.

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1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, III. (1634), 73. The Navie of Athens … over-threw the fleet of Xerxes, whose Land-forces were soone after discomfited by them.

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1790.  Beatson, Nav. & Mil. Mem., II. 191. Having on board … near 3,000 land-forces.

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1849.  Grote, Greece, II. xxxviii. V. 38. He surveyed … his masses of land-force covering the shore.

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