Do you speak a little Italian when you say 'partisan'?

'Partisan' is a word borrowed from Italian 'partigiano'. The word entered the English language some time around 1555.

partisan [noun] [1555]

• a firm adherent to a , faction, cause, or person
• one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance
• a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy
• a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines

Meaning: a firm adherent to a party ; faction; cause; or person; one exhibiting blind; prejudiced; and unreasoning allegiance; a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy.

Etymology: Middle French partisan; from north Italian dialect partizan; from part part; party; from Latin part-; pars part.

Topics: Military:Warfare.

Origin: From Italian to English.

See 'partisan' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Italian.

See more loan words from 1500s.