grognard

English

Etymology

From French grognard (“grumbler”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹɔnjɑɹ/, /ˈɡɹoʊn.jɑɹd/, /ˈɡɹɑɡ.nɑɹd/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

grognard (plural grognards)

1. An old soldier.
2. (historical) A soldier of the original imperial guard that was created by Napoleon I in 1804 and that made the final French charge at Waterloo.
3. (games, slang) Someone who enjoys playing older war games or roleplaying games, or older versions of such games, when newer ones are available, and often complains frequently about newer games.

   James is such a grognard: he only plays the original edition of Dungeons & Dragons.

4. (military) A soldier or military enthusiast who pays meticulous attention to rules, details, and traditions, often respected for their expertise in areas that others might overlook.
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:grognard.

Translations

old soldier

Catalan: veterà

games, slang: person who prefers to play older (versions of) war games or RPGs

Russian: гомогей m (gomogej)

French

Etymology

From grogner (“to snarl, grunt, growl, grumble”) +‎ -ard.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡʁɔ.ɲaʁ/

• Audio (France (Toulouse)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Somain)):

  (file)

Noun

grognard m (plural grognards, feminine grognarde)

1. a grumbler; one who grumbles
2. an old veteran soldier, specifically an old grenadier of the Imperial Guard (Grenadiers à pied de la Garde Impériale); an old complaining soldier

Related terms

• grognasse
• grognon

References

• Napoleonic Glossary

Further reading

• “grognard”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.