sb. and a. [a. F. soldatesque (see prec. and -ESQUE), ad. It. soldatesco military, soldatesca soldiery.]
† A. sb. The military. Obs.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1649), 557. The Legats in Trent (now free from the Soldatesq;) advised how to delay the time. Ibid., 573. The Gentry and Soldatesque of the Kingdome.
B. adj. Of or pertaining to a soldier; soldierlike, soldierly.
1840. Tait’s Mag., VII. 417. There was more fire and genuine soldatesque Burschicosity about this old cavalry officer than in any mad French conscript.
1861. Pearson, Early & Mid. Ages Eng., 31. They were subject only to their own tribunals, and encouraged by these in a soldatesque license against civilians.
