bashi-bazouk

noun

bashi-ba·​zouk

ˌbashēbəˈzük

plural -s

1

a

: a member of an irregular ill-disciplined auxiliary of the Ottoman Empire

b

: irregular

2

: a turbulent ill-disciplined person

Word History

Etymology

Turkish başı bozuk irregular soldier, from baş head, leader + bozuk depraved, corrupt

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