subs. (military).—An infantry-man. [Used in contempt by the mounted arm.] Fr., marionnette.
1868. WHYTE-MELVILLE, The White Rose, ch. x. ‘Is it a good regiment? How jolly to dine at mess every day!’ ‘I shouldn’t like to be a ‘GRABBY’ though’ (this from the Dandy); ‘and after all, I’d rather be a private in the cavalry than an officer in the regiment of feet!’
