Partisan
Partisan (par"ti*zan) , noun
[French, from Italian partigiano. See Party, and compare Partisan a truncheon.]
1.
An adherent to a party or faction; esp., one who is strongly and passionately devoted to a party or an interest.
The violence of a partisan.
Both sides had their partisans in the colony.
2.
(a) (Military) The commander of a body of detached light troops engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy.
(b)
(Military) Any member of such a corps.
Partisan , adjective
[Written also partizan.]
1.
Adherent to a party or faction; especially, having the character of blind, passionate, or unreasonable adherence to a party; as, blinded by partisan zeal.
2.
(Military) Serving as a partisan in a detached command; as, a partisan officer or corps.
Collocations (1)
Partisan ranger (Military) , a member of a partisan corps.
Partisan , noun
[French pertuisane, prob. from Italian partigiana, influenced in French by Old French pertuisier to pierce. It was prob. so named as the weapon of some partisans, or party men. Compare Partisan one of a corps of light troops.]
A kind of halberd or pike; also, a truncheon; a staff.
And make him with our pikes and partisans a grave.