History of The Word
The word pioneer is originally from France.
The word (French: pionnier) was borrowed into English, from Old French pionnier, which meant a "foot soldier", from the root 'peon' recorded in 1523. It was used in a military sense as early as 1626–1627. In the late 18th century Captain George Smith defined the term as:
PIONEERS, in war-time, are such as are commanded in from the country, to march with an army, for mending the ways, for working on entrenchments, fortifications, and for making mines and approaches: the soldiers are likewise employed in all these things. Most of the foreign regiments of artillery have half a company of pioneers, well instructed in that important branch of duty. Our regiments of infantry and cavalry have 3 or 4 pioneers each, provided with aprons, hatchets, saws, spades, and pick-axes.
Read more about this topic: Pioneer (military)
Famous quotes containing the words history of, history and/or word:
“I am not a literary man.... I am a man of science, and I am interested in that branch of Anthropology which deals with the history of human speech.”
—J.A.H. (James Augustus Henry)
“As I am, so shall I associate, and so shall I act; Caesars history will paint out Caesar.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“The thought is merely a sign, as the word is merely a sign for the thought.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (18441900)