A soldier in a light cavalry or infantry unit, especially in the French military, trained for rapid movement and reconnaissance.
French word from 'chasser' (to chase), derived from Latin 'captiare' (to hunt or pursue). It originally referred to hunters, then came to mean cavalry soldiers who moved quickly like hunters pursuing prey.
Chasseurs were basically the special forces of the 1700s-1800s—elite soldiers who moved fast and could adapt quickly, just like their name suggests (from 'to chase'). Napoleon had famous chasseur units that were so skilled they became legendary across Europe!
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