landwehr

noun land·wehr \ ˈläntˌvār \

Definition of landwehr

plural -s

: the part of the organized national armed forces (as in the former German and Austrian empires, Japan, Switzerland) that has completed the required service with the colors and constitutes the second line of defense

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Origin and Etymology of landwehr

German, from Middle High German lantwer forces called for defense of the land, from Old High German lantweri defense of the land, from lant land + weri defense