Chetnik

noun

Chet·​nik chet-ˈnēk How to pronounce Chetnik (audio)
ˈchet-nik
1
: an irregular Slav soldier in the Balkans
especially : a member of various irregular Serbian military forces that in periods of disorder (as during World War II and following the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991) pursued ultranationalist aims
2
: an ultranationalist Serb

Word History

Etymology

Serbian četnik, from četa band, troop

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Chetnik was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near Chetnik

Cite this Entry

“Chetnik.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Chetnik. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Chetnik

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!