CUIRASSIERS, a sort of heavy cavalry armed with cuirasses. The cavalry of this description in the French army, who fought at Waterloo, had, until that time, been thought almost invincible; and such was their reputation for courage and daring, that "brave comme un cuirassier" had become a proverb in the French army. But notwithstanding their gallantry and musket-proof armour, they were completely routed and destroyed by the superior weight and dexterity of the British life-guards; a proof, as it should seem, that the latter required no such protection. Yet, notwithstanding, the cuirass was introduced not long after into the British service.