Cadet
/kəˈdɛt/noun
A younger son or daughter, or a trainee for military service; especially a young officer in training.
Did you know?The word likely entered English through French from Gascon/Occitan *capdet*, a diminutive of *cap* meaning ‘head,’ so its history is tied to being a ‘little chief’ before it became a military trainee.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
LL
caput
“head; leader; source”
Occitan/Gascon
Ocg
capdet
“little head; younger son; junior member of a family”
Middle French
Fr
cadet
“younger son; younger brother; later, a junior or trainee”
17th Century
English
cadet
“younger son of a noble family; later, a military student or trainee officer”
Modern English
English
cadet
“a trainee in a military school or service; also a junior member of a group”