Also 8–9 ulan; 8 houlan, 9 hulan. [a. F. uhlan, hulan, houlan, G. uhlan, ulan (Da. and Sw. ulan, It. ulano), a. Polish ulan, hulan (Czech ulan, hulan, Serb. ulan, Russ. уланъ), ad. Turk. oghlān (pop. ōlān), son, youth, servant.] A special type of cavalryman or lancer in various European armies (originally in Slavonic countries, esp. Poland; latterly spec. in the German Empire).
α. 1753. Scots Mag., Jan., 3/2. The surplus … consisted of Tartars and Ulans, whom he chose to keep in his pay.
1799. W. Tooke, View Russian Emp., I. 418. In their clothes they resembled the Poles, or rather the polish Ulans.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., The Ulans generally engage the enemy in small platoons or squads.
β. 1768. Ann. Reg., Chron., 126. They write from Warsaw, that an officer of Houlans … has been grievously insulted by a Russian officer.
1809. R. K. Porter, Trav. Sk. Russia & Sweden (1813), I. 171. One of the most superb regiments in the Russian service is that of the Hulans, commanded by the Archduke Constantine.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. i. Flying hulans and hussars have been seen on the Châlons road.
1851. Gallenga, Italy, 131. Three squadrons of hulans and four companies of Croatians.
γ. 1771. Gentl. Mag., XLI. 478. The King [of Poland] was not escorted as usual by his guard of twelve Uhlans.
1809. Lond. Chron., 6 July, 18/2. Three regiments of infantry, one of uhlans, and a battalion of the Bohemian Landwehr.
1889. Baden-Powell, Pigsticking, xi. 71. In that campaign, Hans Breitmann, serving as a uhlan, observed the number of sows that were about in the Ardennes.
attrib. 1812. Examiner, 7 Dec., 781/1. Three Uhlan regiments of Guards.
1887. Sir W. W. Hunter, in Skrine, Life, xviii. (1901), 367. The horses go well, and my Uhlan groom is careful and intelligent.
transf. 1886. Pall Mall G., 6 March, 5/2. Those uhlans of commerce who have lately been so urgently calling for the establishment of railway communication with China through Burmah.
Hence Uhlaner.
1886. W. J. Tucker, E. Europe, 265. The cavalry officer, be he of the huszárs, the uhlaners, or of any other mounted body of men, represents in most cases blood and fortune.
