/kawn'deuh tyair"ay, -tyair"ee/ ; It. /kawn'dawt tye"rdde/ , n. , pl. condottieri /-tyair"ee/ ; It. /-tye"rddee/ .
1. a leader of a private band of mercenary soldiers in Italy, esp. in the 14th and 15th centuries.
2. any mercenary; soldier of fortune.
[ 1785-95; condott ( o ) ( conductus hired man, ptp. of conducere to CONDUCE; see CONDUCT) + -iere -arius -ARY ]