PARTISAN

I. noun also partizan Etymology: Middle French ~, from north Italian dialect partiźan, from part part, party, from Latin part-, pars part Date: 1555 a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person, 2. a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy, a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines, see: follower ~ adjective ~ly adverb ~ship noun II. noun or partizan Etymology: Middle French ~e, from north Italian dialect partiźana, feminine of partiźan Date: 1556 a weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries with long shaft and broad blade