- soldier (n.)
- c.1300, from Old French soudier "one who serves in the army for pay," from Medieval Latin soldarius "a soldier" (cf. Italian soldato and French soldat "soldier," which is borrowed from Italian), literally "one having pay," from Late Latin soldum, from accusative of Latin solidus, a Roman gold coin (see solidus).
- soldier (v.)
- "to serve as a soldier," 1640s, from soldier (n.); to soldier on "persist doggedly" is attested from 1954. Related: Soldiered; soldiering.