Zouave

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A member of a French infantry unit, originally composed of Algerian recruits, characterized by colorful uniforms and precision drilling.
2. n. A member of a group patterned after the French Zouaves, especially a member of such a unit of the Union Army in the U.S. Civil War.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A soldier belonging to a corps of light infantry in the French army, distinguished for their dash, intrepidity, and hardihood, and for their peculiar drill and showy Oriental uniform. The Zouaves were organized in Algeria in 1831, and consisted at first of two battalious chiefly of Kabyles and other natives, but ultimately became almost entirely French, with increased numbers. They served exclusively in Algeria till 1854, and afterward fought in European wars.
2. n. A member of one of the volunteer regiments of the Union army in the American civil war (1861-5) which adopted the name and to some extent imitated the dress of the French Zouaves.

Wiktionary

1. n. military One of an active and hardy body of soldiers in the French service, originally Kabyle, but now composed of Frenchmen who wear the Kabyle dress.
2. n. military Hence, one of a body of soldiers who adopt the dress and drill of the zouaves in French service, as was done by a number of volunteer regiments in the army of the United States in the Civil War, 1861-65.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. One of an active and hardy body of soldiers in the French service, originally Arabs, but now composed of Frenchmen who wear the Arab dress.
2. n. Hence, one of a body of soldiers who adopt the dress and drill of the Zouaves, as was done by a number of volunteer regiments in the army of the United States in the Civil War, 1861-65.