Zouave noun. [zu:'ɑ:v, zwɑ:v] M19.
[French from Berber (Kabyle) Zouaoua name of a people.]
1. A member of a body of light infantry in the French army, originally formed of Algerian Kabyles, and long retaining the original oriental uniform. M19.
b. Hist. More fully Papal Zouave, Pontifical Zouave. A member of a corps of French soldiers formed in Rome for the defence of the Pope between 1860 and 1871. M19.
c. Hist. A member of any of several volunteer regiments of Union troops in the American Civil War which adopted the name and in part the uniform of the French Zouaves. M19.

2. A garment resembling part of the Zouave uniform; spec. (a) Hist. (in full Zouave jacket, Zouave bodice) a woman's short embroidered jacket or bodice, with or without sleeves; (b) in pl., pegtop trousers, as worn by men in the late 19th cent. and women in the late 20th cent. (also Zouave trousers, Zouave pants); (c) a wide loose skirt with a looped or tucked up hemline (also Zouave skirt). M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲