— dragoonage , n.
/dreuh goohn"/ , n.
1. (esp. formerly) a European cavalryman of a heavily armed troop.
2. a member of a military unit formerly composed of such cavalrymen, as in the British army.
3. (formerly) a mounted infantryman armed with a short musket.
v.t.
4. to set dragoons or soldiers upon; persecute by armed force; oppress.
5. to force by oppressive measures; coerce: The authorities dragooned the peasants into leaving their farms.
[ 1615-25; dragon, special use of dragon DRAGON, applied first to a pistol hammer (so named because of its shape), then to the firearm, then to the troops so armed ]