grognard

From French grognard (“grumbler”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹɔnjɑɹ/, /ˈɡɹoʊn.jɑɹd/, /ˈɡɹɑɡ.nɑɹd/

grognard (plural grognards)

1. An old soldier.
2. (historical) A soldier of the original imperial guard that was created by Napoleon I in 1804 and that made the final French charge at Waterloo.
3. (games, slang) Someone who enjoys playing older war-games or roleplaying games, or older versions of such games, when newer ones are available.

   James is such a grognard, he only plays the original edition of Dungeons and Dragons.

4. (Military) A soldier or enthusiast in attention to detail for rules and regulations. Respected as an expert in things most people don’t care about.
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:grognard.

From grogner (“snarl, grunt, growl, grumble”) +‎ -ard.

• IPA^(key): /ɡʁɔ.ɲaʁ/

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grognard m (plural grognards)

1. a grumbler; one who grumbles
2. an old veteran soldier, specifically an old grenadier of the Imperial Guard (Grenadiers à pied de la Garde Impériale); an old complaining soldier

• grognon

• Napoleonic Glossary

• “grognard”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.