INFANTRY, in military affairs, the whole body of foot-soldiers, whether independent companies or regiments.—The word takes its origin from one of the infantas of Spain, who, finding that the army commanded by the king her father had been defeated by the Moors, assembled a body of foot-soldiers, and with them engaged and totally routed the enemy. In memory of this event, and to distinguish the foot-soldiers, who were not before held in much consideration, they received the name of infantry.