grognard

From French grognard (“grumbler”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹɔnjɑɹ/, /ˈɡɹoʊn.jɑɹd/, /ˈɡɹɑɡ.nɑɹd/

grognard (plural grognards)

1. An old soldier.
2. (historical) A soldier of the original imperial guard that was created by Napoleon I in 1804 and that made the final French charge at Waterloo.
3. (games, slang) Someone who enjoys playing older war games or roleplaying games, or older versions of such games, when newer ones are available.

   James is such a grognard, he only plays the original edition of Dungeons and Dragons.

4. (military) A soldier or enthusiast in attention to detail for rules and regulations. Respected as an expert in things most people don’t care about.
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:grognard.

From grogner (“to snarl, grunt, growl, grumble”) +‎ -ard.

• IPA^(key): /ɡʁɔ.ɲaʁ/

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grognard m (plural grognards, feminine grognarde)

1. a grumbler; one who grumbles
2. an old veteran soldier, specifically an old grenadier of the Imperial Guard (Grenadiers à pied de la Garde Impériale); an old complaining soldier

• grognasse
• grognon

• Napoleonic Glossary

• “grognard”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.