Guides (pron. gheed)

Contraction of guidons. A corps of French cavalry which carries the guidon, a standard borne by light horse-soldiers, broad at one end and nearly pointed at the other. The corps des Guides was organised in 1796 by Napoleon as a personal bodyguard; in 1848 several squadrons were created, but Napoleon III. made the corps a part of the Imperial Guard. Great care must be taken not to confound the Guides with the Gardes, as they are totally distinct terms.

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.