A pioneer (pronounced /ˌpаɪəˈnɪər/) is a soldier employed to perform engineering tasks, originally in France. The word (French: pionnier) was borrowed into English, from Old French pionnier, which meant a "foot soldier", from the root 'peon' recorded in 1523. It was used in a military sense as early as 1626-1627. Captain George Smith defines it as
PIONEERS, in war-time, are such as are commanded in from the country, to march with an army, for men...
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A pioneer (pronounced /ˌpаɪəˈnɪər/) is a soldier employed to perform engineering tasks, originally in France. The word (French: pionnier) was borrowed into English, from Old French pionnier, which meant a "foot soldier", from the root 'peon' recorded in 1523. It was used in a military sense as early as 1626-1627. Captain George Smith defines it as
PIONEERS, in war-time, are such as are commanded in from the country, to march with an army, for mending the ways, for working on intrenchments, and fortifications, and for making mines and approaches: the soldiers are likewise employed in all these things. Most of the foreign regiments of artillery have half a company of pioneers, well instructed in that important branch of duty. Our regiments of infantry and cavalry have 3 or 4 pioneers each, provided with aprons, hatchets, saws, spades, and pick-axes.
In the past it had been a military occupation within the European armies in the Artillery and later Engineer branch of Service. Their...
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