A hussar may etymologically be a pirate on horseback — the word likely traces to the same Latin root as corsair, meaning raider.
A member of a light cavalry unit, originally Hungarian, known for elaborate military uniforms featuring braided jackets, fur-trimmed capes, and ornamental headgear.
From Hungarian huszár, from Old Serbian husar or gusar (pirate, brigand), from Medieval Latin cursarius (pirate, raider), from Latin cursus (a running, course). An alternative theory derives it from Hungarian húsz (twenty), supposedly because every twentieth man was conscripted for cavalry service. Key roots: cursus (Latin: "running, course
The hussar may etymologically be a pirate on horseback — the word likely traces through South Slavic to Medieval Latin cursarius (raider, corsair), the same root that gives us corsair. The alternative theory that it comes from Hungarian húsz (twenty), because every twentieth household had to provide a cavalryman, is widely repeated but less well supported. Hussar uniforms were so spectacularly ornate — with braided