Hypertext Webster Gateway: "partisan"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Partisan \Par"ti*san\, n. [F. pertuisane, prob. fr. It.
partigiana, influenced in French by OF. pertuisier to pierce.
It was prob. so named as the weapon of some partisans, or
party men. Cf. {Partisan} one of a corps of light troops.]
A kind of halberd or pike; also, a truncheon; a staff.
And make him with our pikes and partisans a grave.
--Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Partisan \Par"ti*san\, n. [F., fr. It. partigiano. See {Party},
and cf. {Partisan} a truncheon.] [Written also {partizan}.]
1. An adherent to a party or faction; esp., one who is
strongly and passionately devoted to a party or an
interest. ``The violence of a partisan.'' --Macaulay.
Both sides had their partisans in the colony.
--Jefferson.
2. (Mil.)
(a) The commander of a body of detached light troops
engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy.
(b) Any member of such a corps.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Partisan \Par"ti*san\, a. [Written also partizan.]
1. Adherent to a party or faction; especially, having the
character of blind, passionate, or unreasonable adherence
to a party; as, blinded by partisan zeal.
2. (Mil.) Serving as a partisan in a detached command; as, a
partisan officer or corps.
{Partisan ranger} (Mil.), a member of a partisan corps.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
partisan
adj 1: affiliated with one party or faction
2: devoted to a cause or party [syn: {partizan}] [ant: {nonpartisan}]
3: adhering or confined to a particular sect or denomination or
party; "denominational prejudice" [syn: {denominational}]
n 1: a fervent and even militant proponent of something [syn: {zealot}]
2: an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or
activity [syn: {enthusiast}, {partizan}]
3: a pike with a long tapering double-edged blade with lateral
projections; 16th and 17th centuries [syn: {partizan}]
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