The word dragoons refers to a unit of mounted soldiers.

Dragoons were mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility. In the beginning, they fought on the ground and not from horseback during the actual battle. This changed during the 18th century, where the soldiers were trained in battle on horseback.

The dragoons were established in the 17th century. Most of the European armies consisted of dragoon regiments. During the 18th century and onward, they were known as cavalries instead of dragoons.