sepoy

An indigenous soldier serving in the army of a foreign conqueror, especially an Indian soldier serving under British command in India.

The lowest enlisted rank in the British Indian army and its successors, equivalent to private.

One holding this rank.

In India, a native soldier disciplined and uniformed according to European regulations; especially, a native soldier of the British army in India. The officers of sepoys have usually been European, and those of the higher ranks are exclusively so.

A native of India employed as a soldier in the service of a European power, esp. of Great Britain; an Oriental soldier disciplined in the European manner.

A native soldier of the East Indies, employed in the service of a European colonial power, notably the British India army (first under the British-chartered East India Company, later in the crown colony), but also France and Portugal.