[sol.dier] n [ME soudier, fr. MF, fr. soulde pay, fr. LL solidus solidus] (14c) 1 a: one engaged in military service and esp. in the army b: an enlisted man or woman c: a skilled warrior
2: a militant leader, follower, or worker 3 a: one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usu. differing from workers in larger size and head and long jaws b: one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws
4: one who shirks work -- sol.dier.ly adj or adv -- sol.dier.ship n
[2]soldier vi sol.diered ; sol.dier.ing (1647) 1 a: to serve as a soldier b: to behave in a soldierly manner c: to push doggedly forward--usu. used with on "~ed on to the end"
2: to make a pretense of working while really loafing