trooper

To work as a trooper.

Noun

  1. A soldier of private rank in cavalry or armor.

    Synonyms: cavalryman horse soldier crewman armored soldier zipperhead Tpr

  2. A cavalry horse; a charger.
  3. A soldier.
  4. A troopship.
    • She was built by William Denny & Bros. Ltd., and launched in 1939, but went immediately on active service as a trooper. - 1947 January and February, “Notes and News: New Southern Channel Steamer”, in Railway Magazine,...
  5. Ellipsis of state trooper.
  6. A mounted policeman.
  7. Misspelling of trouper (“one who stoically endures adversity”) .
    • He was a real trooper about taking care of the kids for the weekend.
    • Because his father and brothers were in the department, he had to be. She knew he was never really comfortable with the job but still he did it like a trooper. - 2005, Justin Watral, Firehouse 101, page 272:

    Synonyms: survivor tough cookie

Origin

From troop + -er, from French troupe. The sense of “one who endures adversity” comes from trouper (“member of an acting troupe”) but through assimilation with the sense of “soldier” has come to be usually spelled “trooper”.

Forms

troopers

Related

trouper

Derived

curse like a trooper cybertrooper grouper trooper moss-trooper paratrooper smoke like a trooper stormtrooper storm trooper swear like a trooper Troopergate trooper hat

Verb

  1. To work as a trooper.
    • Maybe I should quit troopering and hire on with Global Harvest. - 2009, Dana Stabenow, Whisper to the Blood, →ISBN, page 153:
  2. To work steadily at an unpleasant job without complaint.
    • Carrie handed out tools, helped hold a measuring tape, and troopered on where she could, - 2011, G. Robert Jones, Discard, →ISBN, page 111:
    • But she troopered on, plastering a smile on her face and giving her a warm greeting and inwardly reminded herself that Ms. Madeleine was of no threat to her, as if she had a fear of Jack-in-the-boxes. - 2013, C.A....

Forms

troopers troopering troopered