#infantry
- Halberd — A medieval infantry polearm, widely used between the 14th and 16th centuries, consisting of a long wooden shaft topped with a multi-purpose iron head: an axe blade on one side, a sharp spear point extending forward, and a hook or spike on the opposite side. Structurally, this weapon provided great efficiency against armored knights, allowing cutting, thrusting, or pulling riders off their horses.
- Halberdier — A soldier from the medieval or Renaissance infantry armed with a halberd. These warriors were often part of elite troops or the personal guards of European sovereigns and princes, playing a crucial structural defensive role in stopping heavy cavalry charges due to the versatility of their long polearm.
- Anti-tank — Designed, equipped, or deployed for combating, damaging, or destroying enemy tanks and other armored vehicles. The term applies to specialized weaponry (guided missiles, artillery, mines, grenades), tactical infantry units, or structural defensive obstacles (ditches, dragon's teeth) used to block the advance of armor on the battlefield.
- Crossbowman — A foot or mounted soldier in medieval armies armed with a crossbow, specialized in long-range target shooting and tactical self-defense behind large shields (pavises). In the 14th and 15th centuries, crossbowmen units (such as the Genoese) formed elite mercenary corps highly sought after by European monarchs for their efficiency in sieges.
- Arquebus — An individual, portable, long-barreled firearm with a matchlock mechanism, invented in the 15th century, representing one of the first firearms widely used in European infantry. Structurally, it was heavy, muzzle-loaded, and possessed a powerful recoil, often requiring a forked rest support during firing.
- Arquebusier — A soldier from the 15th-17th century infantry armed with an arquebus; a warrior specialized in operating early firearms and executing organized volley fire tactics. These soldiers revolutionized the medieval battlefield, gradually reducing the importance of heavy cavalry and forcing changes in fortification architecture.
- Assaulter — A person, soldier, or combat tactical unit directly participating in executing an assault or a violent attack on a fortified enemy position. As an adjective, it describes a military element, equipment, or force with a structural offensive role, specially designed for rapid entry and neutralization of high-security objectives.
- Azab — A light infantryman from an auxiliary vanguard military unit of the Ottoman army, historically recruited from unmarried young men in the provinces. In the context of medieval Romanian principalities, the term defined bodies of mercenaries or armed guards stationed in fortresses or at princely courts. These soldiers had the structural role of harassing the enemy in the front line and providing a quick defense, being recognized for their high mobility on the battlefield.