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dragoon (n.)

1620s, "cavalry soldier," from French dragon, probably so called for the guns they carried, from dragon "carbine, musket," because the guns "breathed fire" like dragons (see dragon). Also see -oon.

dragoon (v.)

"to compel by repeated threats or harassment," 1680s, literally "to force by the agency of dragoons" (which were used by the French kings to persecute Protestants), from dragoon (n.). Related: Dragooned; dragooning.

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Definitions of dragoon from WordNet
1
dragoon (v.)
compel by coercion, threats, or crude means;
Synonyms: sandbag / railroad
dragoon (v.)
subjugate by imposing troops;
2
dragoon (n.)
a member of a European military unit formerly composed of heavily armed cavalrymen;
From wordnet.princeton.edu