Dragoon \Dra*goon"\ (dr[.a]*g[=oo]n"), n. [F. dragon dragon, dragoon, fr. L. draco dragon, also, a cohort's standard (with a dragon on it). The name was given from the sense standard. See {Dragon}.] 1. ((Mil.) Formerly, a soldier who was taught and armed to serve either on horseback or on foot; now, a mounted soldier; a cavalry man.
2. A variety of pigeon. --Clarke.
{Dragoon bird} (Zo["o]l.), the umbrella bird.
Dragoon \Dra*goon"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dragooned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dragooning}.] 1. To harass or reduce to subjection by dragoons; to persecute by abandoning a place to the rage of soldiers.
2. To compel submission by violent measures; to harass; to persecute.
The colonies may be influenced to anything, but they can be dragooned to nothing. --Price.
Lewis the Fourteenth is justly censured for trying to dragoon his subjects to heaven. --Macaulay.