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[–] 5 points 17 hours ago (1 child)

From Middle French infanterie, from older Italian, possibly from Spanish infantería (“foot soldiers, force composed of those too inexperienced or low in rank for cavalry”), from infante (“foot soldier”), originally "a youth", either way from Latin īnfāns (“child”); see there for more.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/infantry

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  • [–] 4 points 16 hours ago*

    And "soldier" comes from "solidus", a Roman gold coin. So soldier = one who receives pay. It's more involved than that but basically yeah.

    "Mercenary" also has its roots in "merce" = "goods" or "merchandise". So mercenary is also rooted in payment. Also Mercurius was the god of among other thing commerce.

    Alas we wax etymological!

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