ˌkȯndȯˈtye(ˌ)rā, ˌkän-, ˌkōn-, -dōˈt-, ˌkȯndȯtēˈe(ˌ)rā noun
also con·dot·tiero -(ˌ)rō
( plural condottieri -(ˌ)rē)
Etymology: Italian condottiere, from condotta act of hiring, troop of mercenaries (from feminine of condotto — past participle of condurre to conduct, hire — , from Latin conductus, past participle of conducere ) + -iere -er
1. : a leader of a band of mercenary professional soldiers common in Europe from the 14th to the 16th centuries
2. : a member of the band of a condottiere ; broadly : a professional mercenary soldier : free lance