n.1 a person who has grown old in or had long experience of esp. military service or an occupation (a war veteran; a veteran of the theatre; a veteran marksman).
2 US an ex-serviceman or servicewoman.
3 (attrib.) of or for veterans.
Phrases and idioms:
veteran car Brit. a car made before 1916, or (strictly) before 1905.
Etymology: F v{eacute}t{eacute}ran or L veteranus (adj. & n.) f. vetus -eris old