Zouave, n.

zouave
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zouave_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1921; not fully revised

# Zouavenoun

## Earlier version

- Zouave in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun Zouave mean?

There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun Zouave. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Zouave has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

military (1840s) costume (1850s)

#### Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

### How common is the noun Zouave?

About 0.2occurrences per million words in modern written English

1840 | 0.86
1850 | 0.87
1860 | 0.83
1870 | 0.94
1880 | 0.89
1890 | 0.64
1900 | 0.52
1910 | 0.44
1920 | 0.38
1930 | 0.33
1940 | 0.26
1950 | 0.22
1960 | 0.19
1970 | 0.17
1980 | 0.16
1990 | 0.15
2000 | 0.15
2010 | 0.16

### How is the noun Zouave pronounced?

#### British English

/zʊˈɑːv/
zuu-AHV
/zwɑːv/
zwahv

#### U.S. English

/zuˈɑv/
zoo-AHV
/zwɑv/
zwahv

### Where does the noun Zouave come from?

Earliest known use

1840s

The earliest known use of the noun Zouave is in the 1840s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zouave is from 1848, in a translation by W. K. Kelly.

Zouave is a borrowing from French.

### Nearby entries

1. Zoroastrianism, n. 1832–
2. Zoroastrianize, v. 1891–
3. Zoroastric, adj. a1739–
4. Zoroastrism, n. 1819–
5. zorrino, n. 1885–
6. zorro, n. 1838–
7. zos-grass, n. 1937–
8. zoster, n. 1601–
9. zostera, n. 1819–
10. zosterops, n. 1867–
11. Zouave, n.1848–
12. zouk, n. 1986–
13. zounds, v. 1680
14. zounds, int. a1593–
15. Zou-Zou, n. 1860–
16. zowie, int. 1902–
17. zoysia, n. 1965–
18. ZPG, n. 1970–
19. Zr, n. 1814–
20. zubr, n. 1763–
21. zubrowka, n. 1916–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from French.
< French, < Zouaoua, apparently a self-designation (see below).

## Meaning & use

1. 1. 1.a.
      1848–
      One of a body of light infantry in the French army, originally recruited from the Algerian Kabyle tribe of Zouaoua, but afterwards composed of French soldiers distinguished for their physique and dash, and formerly retaining the original North African uniform.
      1. [1830

         > The whole of the native warriors called the Zouavi.

         translation of E. Blaquiere's Sig. Pananti (ed. 2) 56]
      2. 1848

         > The Zouaves were standing on the breach.

         W. K. Kelly, translation of L. Blanc, History of Ten Years vol. II. 520
      3. 1858

         > Zouaves with turbans, long mantles, and bronzed, half-Moorish faces.

         N. Hawthorne, Journal 8 January in French & Italian Notebooks (1980) i. 14
      4. 1897

         > In January, 1863, the French general Forey laid siege to Puebla... In one of the many assaults on the corner held by Diaz the zouaves broke into the first court-yard of his stronghold.

         Harper's Magazine April 752/1
      figurative
      1. 1858

         > Those sciences which might be called the light infantry of progress, the Zouaves of thought.

         H. W. Beecher & E. D. Proctor, Life Thoughts 221
      2. 1903

         > The ‘Physical Force’ agitators were the Zouaves of Carlton House.

         Speaker 30 May 210/2
      attributive
      1. 1863

         > The orderly disorder of a Zouave march.

         E. Dicey, Six Months in Federal States vol. II. 7
      military
      1. spahi 1562–
         A horseman forming one of a body of cavalry which formerly constituted an important part of the Turkish army and was to some extent organized on a…
      2. legionnaire 1595–
         A member of a legion; esp. (frequently with capital initial) a member of a named legion, as the American Legion, the Royal British Legion, or the…
      3. strelitz 1603–
         A soldier belonging to a body of Russian troops composed of infantry raised by the Tsar Ivan the Terrible (1533–84) and abolished by Peter the…
      4. Croat 1623–
         A member of any of various light cavalry regiments composed (originally or primarily) of Croats. Now historical.
      5. deli 1667–
         A member of a former light cavalry unit within the Turkish infantry that served as the vizier's personal retinue and acted as a shock troop.
      6. Croatian 1700
         A native or inhabitant of Croatia, a country in south-eastern Europe on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea; (in some historical contexts) a member…
      7. lancer 1712
         A (cavalry) soldier armed with a lance; now only, a soldier belonging to one of certain regiments officially called Lancers.
      8. highlander 1725–
         Chiefly with capital initial. Military. A member of a Highland regiment or other military unit originally composed of Highlanders (sense 1a) or…
      9. lambs 1744–
         plural. The name given to the proverbially cruel and rapacious soldiers of Col. Kirke's regiment in 1684–6, in ironical allusion to the device of…
      10. royals 1762–
          In plural. The members of the former Royal Scots Regiment of the British army.
      11. light-bob 1778–
          (A nickname for) a soldier in a light infantry company. Also in plural with the and capital initial: (a nickname for) a particular regiment of the…
      12. fly-slicer 1785–
          (See quot.).
      13. Life Guardsman 1785–
          A soldier belonging to the Life Guards.
      14. royals?1795–
          In plural. The members of the former Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) regiment of the British army. Now historical except in Blues and Royals n. at blue…
      15. Hottentot 1796–
          South African. A member of the Hottentot Corps (later the Cape Corps), a military corps of Khoekhoe soldiers; spec. = pandour, n. 2. Now historical.
      16. yeoman 1798–
          spec. A member of the (Imperial) Yeomanry: see yeomanry, n. I.3.
      17. pandour 1800–
          South African. A member of a chiefly Khoekhoe regiment established in 1793 by the Dutch East India Company for the defence of the Cape of Good…
      18. Faugh-a-Ballaghs c1811–
          In plural, the nickname of the Royal Irish Fusiliers (formerly the 87th Foot). Also elliptical, as Faughs n.
      19. forty-two man 1816–
          attributive in forty-two man n., a man of the 42nd regiment.
      20. kilty 1842–
          One who wears a kilt; esp. a nickname for a Highland soldier. Also, attributive and as adj.
      21. Zouave 1848–
          One of a body of light infantry in the French army, originally recruited from the Algerian Kabyle tribe of Zouaoua, but afterwards composed of French…
      22. bumbler c1850
          English regional (north-eastern) disparaging. A member of the Newcastle Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry (see yeomanry, n. I.3). Obsolete.
      23. Inniskilliner 1853–
          A member of the Inniskilling regiment.
      24. turco 1853–
          An Algerian soldier serving in the French army. Cf. Zouave, n. 1a.
      25. blue cap 1857–
          Military slang (now historical). Originally: a soldier belonging to the Royal Madras Fusiliers; (later) a soldier belonging to the Royal Dublin…
      26. Zou-Zou 1860–
          = Zouave, n. 1.
      27. Cape boy 1878–
          A man or boy of mixed ethnic descent (cf. coloured, adj. A.I.3d) born or living in the Western Cape of South Africa; spec. a member of a force of… Now offensive except in the specific historical military senses (see also sense 2); cf. boy, n.¹ A.1c.
      28. mudlark 1878–
          colloquial. Chiefly in plural. (A nickname for) a soldier of the Royal Engineers.
      29. king's man 1883–
          British Army. Now usually as one word. Originally: a member of the King's Regiment (now historical). In later use usually spec.: (a title for) a…
      30. Johnny 1888–
          In specific uses. Sometimes as an abbreviation of the fuller names treated at compounds C.1. British slang (originally and chiefly Military). (A…
      31. Piffer 1892–
          A member of the Punjab Irregular Frontier Force, a military unit raised in 1849 chiefly for the purpose of controlling the North-West Frontier of…
      32. Johnny Gurkha 1894–
          (A generic name for) a Gurkha; Gurkhas collectively.
      33. evzone 1897–
          A member of a select infantry regiment in the Greek army, originally recruited from the Greek highlands and conspicuous for their uniform which…
      34. horse gunner 1897–
          A member of the Royal Horse Artillery.
      35. fair dink 1905–
          Used (as a question) to express surprise or doubt, and solicit confirmation. Also used conversationally to emphasize the truthfulness or sincerity…
      36. army ranger 1910–
          (Originally) a member of the army engaged in protective or non-combat duties in a particular area (cf. ranger, n.¹ 5a); (now) spec. a member of…
      37. grognard 1912–
          A soldier of Napoleon's Old Guard. Also transferred, a veteran soldier.
      38. Jock 1914–
          slang. (A nickname for) a Scottish person, esp. a Scottish man. Frequently spec.: a Scottish soldier; a member of a Scottish regiment. Occasionally…
      39. chocolate soldier 1915–
          Australian (originally disparaging). In the First World War (1914–18): a soldier in the 8th Infantry Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force…
      40. Cook's tourist 1915–
          Military slang (usually disparaging or derogatory). A member of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps expeditionary force in the First World War…
      41. dinks 1916–
          In plural with the. In the First World War (1914–18): the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.
      42. dinkum 1916–
          An Australian or New Zealand soldier in the First World War (1914–18); an Anzac; spec. (frequently in plural, with the) a member of either the…
      43. Anzac a1918–
          A member of any later combined Australian and New Zealand force, esp. one of those active in the First World War (1914–18) or Second World War…
      44. choc 1917–
          Australian (originally disparaging). In the First World War (1914–18): a soldier in the 8th Infantry Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force…
      45. ranger 1942–
          Chiefly U.S. With capital initial. A member of an elite American military unit specially trained for close combat and raiding; = commando, n. 3a.
      46. Chindit 1943–
          A member of an Allied force fighting behind Japanese lines in Burma (Myanmar) during the Second World War (1939–45).
      47. Desert Rat 1944–
          A soldier of the 7th (British) armoured division, whose divisional sign was the figure of a jerboa, and which took part in the desert campaign in…
      48. Green Beret 1949–
          A member of one of the special operations forces having a green beret as part of their uniform, esp. those in the British Army (the Commandos)…
      49. blue beret 1958–
          (Chiefly in plural) a member of a United Nations peacekeeping force, having a blue beret as part of their uniform; cf. blue helmet, n.
      50. Black Beret 1966–
          Chiefly in plural a. a member of any of various elite military units having a black beret as part of their uniform; b. a member of any of various…
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. 1.b.
      1864–
      (Also Papal Zouave or Pontifical Zouave.) One of a corps of French soldiers organized at Rome in 1860 for the defence of the pope, and disbanded in 1871.
      1. 1864

         > Some hundreds of the Pontifical Zouaves, chiefly French and Belgian,..were seen at St. Peter's.

         Manning in A. Reinaud, Abbé-Zouave Preface p. ix
      2. 1868

         > When he returned to Rome to join the Zouaves.

         translation of Cardella's J. W. Russell 38
      military
      1. Yeoman of the Guard 1485–
         Yeoman of the Guard: a member of the bodyguard of the sovereign of England (first appointed at the accession of Henry VII, and originally archers)…
      2. solak 1520–
         (See quots.)
      3. janissary 1529–
         One of a former body of Turkish infantry, constituting the Sultan's guard and the main part of the standing army. The body was first organized in…
      4. praetorian 1592–
         Roman History. A soldier of the Praetorian Guard.
      5. trabant 1617–
         In some European countries, a life-guard, an armed attendant, a satellite. Now chiefly Historical.
      6. beefeater 1671–
         Popular appellation of the Yeomen of the Guard, in the household of the Sovereign of Great Britain, instituted at the accession of Henry VII in…
      7. bostangi 1686–
         A Turkish guard of the palace.
      8. mousquetaire 1706–
         A French soldier armed with a musket, a French musketeer; (French History, usually with capital initial) a member of either of two bodies (called…
      9. drabant 1707–
         A halberdier; spec. a soldier of the body-guard of the kings of Sweden.
      10. protector 1781–
          Roman History. In the later Roman Empire: a member of a particular corps of staff officers, nominally functioning as an imperial bodyguard.
      11. Varangian 1788–
          One of the Scandinavian rovers who in the 9th and 10th centuries overran parts of Russia and reached Constantinople; a Northman (latterly also an…
      12. Papal Zouave 1864–
          (Also Papal Zouave or Pontifical Zouave.) One of a corps of French soldiers organized at Rome in 1860 for the defence of the pope, and disbanded in…
      13. greenfinch 1865
          slang. A member of the Pope's Irish guard. Obsolete. rare.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   3. 1.c.
      1860–
      A soldier of any of several volunteer regiments, assuming the name and in part the uniform of the French Zouaves, which served on the side of the North in the American Civil War (1861–5).
      1. 1860

         > The gallant Zouaves..attracted much attention and admiration by their fine appearance and exact drills.

         Press & Tribune (Chicago) 23 February 1/4
      2. 1861

         > Reinforcements were sent from here last night, the New Orleans Zouaves.

         J. Chesnut, Letter 12 June in C. V. Woodward, Mary Chesnut's Civil War (1981) v. 81
      3. 1865

         > In the beginning, when the Yankee Zouaves were young and hopeful.

         G. A. Sala, My Diary in America vol. I. 292
      military
      1. Jersey blue 1758–
         a. A colonial New Jersey soldier (so called from his blue uniform); b. a native or inhabitant of New Jersey; c. a breed of chicken.
      2. shirtman 1775–
         A colonial rifleman during the American War of Independence.
      3. Yorker 1776–
         An inhabitant or a soldier of New York.
      4. buckskin 1783–1835
         A nickname of the American troops during the Revolutionary war; (hence) a person born in America. Also attributive.
      5. Indian fighter 1824–
         A person, esp. a soldier, noted for fighting North American Indigenous people.
      6. blue belly 1827–
         Originally and chiefly U.S. regional (southern). Usually derogatory. A blue-bellied person (blue-bellied, adj. 1), one regarded as low, contemptible, or cowardly; spec. (a) a northerner; (b) a northern soldier…
      7. greyback 1854–
         A member of a military or police force whose uniform includes, or consists of, a grey coat; spec. (U.S. colloquial) a soldier of the Confederate army…
      8. Zouave 1860–
         A soldier of any of several volunteer regiments, assuming the name and in part the uniform of the French Zouaves, which served on the side of the…
      9. Zou-Zou 1860–
         = Zouave, n. 1.
      10. greycoat 1861–
          A member of a military or police force whose uniform includes, or consists of, a grey coat; spec. (U.S.) a soldier of the Confederate army in the…
      11. grey 1862–
          U.S. The grey uniform of Confederate soldiers in the American Civil War (1861–5). Hence also: a Confederate soldier. Cf. greyback, n. 2, blue, n.…
      12. Johnny 1862–
          In specific uses. Sometimes as an abbreviation of the fuller names treated at compounds C.1. U.S. Among Unionist soldiers in the American Civil War…
      13. Johnny Reb 1862–
          (A generic name for) a member of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War (1861–5); (also) Confederate troops collectively (now histo…
      14. blue 1870–
          A person in a blue uniform. Usually in plural and with capital initial: any of various soldiers distinguished by the wearing of blue; spec. (a) a…
      15. blue coat 1885–
          Now usually in form bluecoat. A person whose uniform includes or is distinguished by a blue coat. A soldier wearing a blue coat; spec. a soldier…
      16. dogface 1932–
          U.S. slang. A soldier, esp. an infantryman, in the U.S. army.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
   1859–
   (In full, Zouave jacket, Zouave bodice.) A woman's short embroidered jacket or bodice, with or without sleeves, resembling the jacket of the Zouave uniform.
   1. 1859

      > One of the most decided novelties of the present season is the Zouave jacket.

      Ladies' Treas. September 285/1
   2. 1859

      > Nothing can be prettier for the interior than the little oriental jackets which we call to-day Zouaves.

      Ladies' Cabinet December 335/1
   3. 1893

      > Zouave Bodices are a feature of autumn gowns.

      Lady 17 August 178/1
   costume
   1. corset 1299–
      A close-fitting body-garment; esp. a laced bodice worn as an outside garment by women in the middle ages and still in many countries; also a…
   2. overbody 1535–1845
      A bodice; a tunic.
   3. jupon 1542–95
      A short kirtle worn by women. Cf. jup, n., jupe, n. 2. Obsolete.
   4. half shirt 1578–
      A shirt of shorter than normal length; spec. (a) a day shirt, as opposed to the longer nightshirt; (b) a short shirt worn underneath a longer…
   5. jup 1603–71
      A woman's jacket or bodice. Cf. jupe, n. 2.
   6. Pierrot?1789–1882
      A kind of sleeved, close-fitting jacket or bodice, worn by women in the late 18th cent., having a low neck and basques extending slightly below the…
   7. chemisette 1796–
      A bodice resembling the upper part of a chemise (chemise, n. 1a).
   8. spencer 1799–
      A kind of close-fitting jacket or bodice commonly worn by women and children early in the 19th century, and since revived.
   9. jupe 1810–
      Scottish. A woman's jacket, kirtle, or bodice. Also plural a kind of bodice or stays.
   10. jelick 1816–
       A vest or bodice worn by Turkish women.
   11. railly 1819–27
       A woman's jacket or over-bodice; = rail, n.¹ 3.
   12. rail 1820–82
       An upper garment or jacket worn by women; (Scottish) an over-bodice worn on formal occasions. Cf. railly, n.
   13. basque 1838–
       A short continuation of a doublet, waistcoat, or bodice below the waist; a bodice having this. Now chiefly in historical contexts.
   14. Zouave 1859–
       (In full, Zouave jacket, Zouave bodice.) A woman's short embroidered jacket or bodice, with or without sleeves, resembling the jacket of the…
   15. casaque 1872–
       A woman's blouse or jumper.
   16. casaquin 1879–
       A kind of bodice or jumper.
   17. blousette 1895–
       Any of various types of sleeveless or short-sleeved woman's garment for the upper body, typically made of sheer or lightweight fabric and drawn in at…
   18. overbodice 1897–
   19. choli 1907–
       A short-sleeved bodice worn esp. by Indian women.
   20. halter 1935–
       A strap attached to the top of a backless bodice and looped round the neck; also, a bodice with such a strap or cut so as to give a similar effect…
   21. tube top 1974–
       A woman's close-fitting elasticated top reaching from the waist to under-arm level.
   22. boob tube 1977–
       A woman's close-fitting top, typically strapless and formed of a tube of stretchable or elasticated fabric which encircles the torso.
   23. bustier 1978–
       A short, close-fitting, sleeveless and often strapless bodice or top worn by women.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. duffel coat 1683–
      A warm coat made of duffel or similar thick cloth; (in later use chiefly) spec. a short coat with a hood, fastened at the front with toggles.
   2. banyan shirt 1728–
      a. In South Asian contexts: a loose-fitting shirt, nightgown, or undershirt. historical after 19th cent. †b. English regional. A short jacket or…
   3. duffel jacket 1732–
      = duffel coat, n.
   4. petenlair 1753–
      A jacket reaching down to the waist, fashionable in the 18th cent.
   5. grego 1767–
      A coarse jacket with a hood, worn in the Levant. Also slang, a rough great-coat.
   6. hussar jacket 1784–
      The uniform tunic (dolman) or short cloak (pelisse) of a hussar (now historical); a jacket resembling either of these; spec. †a short jacket…
   7. wamus 1805–
      In southern and western U.S., a warm knitted jacket resembling a cardigan.
   8. camisole 1816–
      A kind of sleeved jacket or jersey.
   9. over-jacket 1830–
   10. dressing sack 1849–
       A light woman's jacket, typically worn over a dress.
   11. matinee 1851–
       A woman's lingerie jacket or wrap for morning wear (see also quot. 1960).
   12. Zouave 1859–
       (In full, Zouave jacket, Zouave bodice.) A woman's short embroidered jacket or bodice, with or without sleeves, resembling the jacket of the…
   13. paletot 1863–
       A fitted jacket worn by women. Now usually more fully paletot jacket.
   14. blazer 1880–
       A light jacket of bright colour worn at cricket or other sports. Now usually an unlined jacket of lightweight material (often flannel), frequently…
   15. Norfolks 1902–
       In plural: a Norfolk suit. In later use also (in singular): a Norfolk jacket. Now rare.
   16. letter sweater 1914–
       A pullover or cardigan, in school or college colours, on which a cloth initial letter is embroidered or sewn, originally to indicate achievement in…
   17. Cossack jacket 1931–
       Chiefly North American. A waist-length (originally man's) jacket, usually made of leather or a similarly hard-wearing material, and typically…
   18. letter jacket 1934–
       A blouson-style jacket, in school or college colours, on which a cloth initial letter is embroidered or sewn, originally to indicate achievement in…
   19. bomber jacket 1940–
       A short, casual jacket, now often made of polyester or a similar lightweight material, that has a zipped front and closely fitting waistband and…
   20. shirt-jac 1944–
       A loose-fitting jacket styled like a shirt, especially in having a turndown collar; = shirt-jacket, n.
   21. bomber 1950–
       A short jacket that has a zipped front and closely fitting waistband and cuffs, typically with a ribbed trim.
   22. samfu jacket 1955–
       A suit consisting of jacket and trousers worn by Chinese women, particularly in Hong Kong and Malaysia; also worn by men. Frequently attributive, as…
   23. guru jacket 1966–
       A high-necked jacket fastened at the front by a vertical row of many small buttons; also elliptical.
   24. Mao jacket 1967–
       attributive. Designating an article of clothing made in the simple style characteristic of dress formerly common in communist China under Mao Zedong…
   25. mandarin jacket 1970–
       A straight-cut jacket with a mandarin collar, frequently made from embroidered silk.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/zʊˈɑːv/
zuu-AHV
/zwɑːv/
zwahv
/ˈzuːɑːv/
ZOO-ahv

### U.S. English

/zuˈɑv/
zoo-AHV
/zwɑv/
zwahv

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

Also zouava.

## Frequency

Zouave typically occurs about 0.2 times per million words in modern written English.

Zouave is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of Zouave, n., 1840–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1840 | 0.86
1850 | 0.87
1860 | 0.83
1870 | 0.94
1880 | 0.89
1890 | 0.64
1900 | 0.52
1910 | 0.44
1920 | 0.38
1930 | 0.33
1940 | 0.26
1950 | 0.22
1960 | 0.19
1970 | 0.17
1980 | 0.16
1990 | 0.15
2000 | 0.15
2010 | 0.16

Zouave, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

Zouave, n. was last modified in July 2023.