landwehr

noun

land·​wehr

ˈläntˌvār

plural -s

: the part of the organized national armed forces (as in the former German and Austrian empires, Japan, Switzerland) that has completed the required service with the colors and constitutes the second line of defense

Word History

Etymology

German, from Middle High German lantwer forces called for defense of the land, from Old High German lantweri defense of the land, from lant land + weri defense

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now