Dictionary

trooper en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈtɹuːpə(ɹ)/

Etymology

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”.

Meanings

1. A soldier of private rank in cavalry or armor.
2. A cavalry horse; a charger.
3. A soldier.
4. (UK) 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, page 49:
5. (US, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of state trooper.
   alt of state trooper
   • After calling everyone they could think of and coming up empty, Kellie filed a missing persons report with the Vermont State Police. Two days later, Kellie and Bruce drove to the State Police barracks in St Albans to drop off their daughter’s photographs. A trooper showed them a picture of the green Oldsmobile backed into the site of the Dutchburn house. Kellie said she felt deeply repulsed by the image. 2026 July 16, Nicholas Muhoro, “Inside the 2004 Brianna Maitland Case: One of Vermont’s Most Haunting Mysteries”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 21 Jul 2026:
6. (Australia) A mounted policeman.
7. (alt-of, colloquial, figuratively, misspelling) Misspelling of trouper (“one who stoically endures adversity”) .
   alt of trouper
   • 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:

Forms

Coordinates

cavalryman · lancer · hussar · dragoon · yeoman · cuirassier · uhlan

Deriveds

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

Relateds

trouper

Synonyms

tough cookie · zipperhead · armored soldier · horse soldier · crewman · Tpr · survivor · cavalryman

Translations (8)

fr troupier (a soldier) · it soldato (a soldier) · fi panssarimies (a soldier) · mi hōia (a soldier) · bg редник от кавалерията (a soldier) · el στρατιωτικός (a soldier) · eo rajdistarano (a soldier) · es tropa (a soldier)

trooper en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈtɹuːpə(ɹ)/

Etymology

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”.

Meanings

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. McJack, Fate's Twisted Circle - Volume 2, →ISBN, page 120:

Forms