subs. (common).—Children. In French, entrer dans l’infanterie = to fall with child. For synonyms, see KID.
1623. JONSON, Time Vindicated.
| Hangs all his school with sharp sentences; | |
| And o’er the execution place hath painted | |
| Time whipt, as terror to the INFANTRY. |
1675. COTTON, Burlesque upon Burlesque: or, The Scoffer Scofft [4th ed. 1725, p. 181].
| Others a spirit, that doth ly | |
| In wait to catch up INFANTRY. |
LIGHT INFANTRY, subs. phr. (common).—Fleas. Cf. HEAVY DRAGOONS.
1894. Westminster Gazette, 15 Nov., p. 2, col. 1. An Irish lady of good family was remonstrated with by a guest on account of the noctural assaults of heavy cavalry, as well as LIGHT INFANTRY issuing after dark from the cracks of an old wood bedstead.
