pandour

noun

pan·​dour

ˈpanˌdu̇(ə)r

plural -s

1

: a member of a Croatian regiment in the Austrian army of the 18th century originally organized as a local militia and having a reputation for cruelty and plundering

2

: an armed servant or retainer of the nobility or member of a mounted constabulary in and near Croatia

Word History

Etymology

French pandour, pandoure, from Hungarian pandur, from Croatian, guard, constable, probably from Medieval Latin banderius, bannerius guardian of fields, summoner, from bannum proclamation, summons, ban, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German ban command, prohibition, jurisdiction

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