[mod. Turk.; lit. ‘one whose head is turned.’]
1. A mercenary soldier belonging to the skirmishing or irregular troops of the Turkish army; notorious for their lawlessness, plundering, and savage brutality. Hence Bashi-bazoukery, Bashi-Bazouks collectively, their habits, etc.
1859. Blackw. Mag., March, 302/1. The Bashi-Bazouks bolted, and dashing in amongst the Turkish regulars, put them to the rout too.
1861. Miss Beaufort, Egypt. Sepul., II. xvii. 60. Bashi-Bazouk, the generic name given to any of the Arabs of this country who attached themselves to the government and fought for pay.
1884. Rajah Brooke of Sarawak, in Pall Mall Gaz., 1 March, 1/2. His government was a system of Bashi-Bazoukery plus slave-raiding…. The Bashi-Bazoukery from Brunei ceased to trouble the tribes.
2. fig. An ‘irregular,’ a skirmisher.
1855. Wynter, Cur. Civiliz., II. 404. The Bashi-Bazouks of private establishments.
1861. Sala, Tw. round Clock, 33. Hard-working boys are these juvenile Bashi-Bazouks of the newspaper trade.
