Turkish adjective, meaning “mad, heedless, brave, fiery” etc. In the Ottoman empire the delis were a class of cavalry formed originally in the Balkans (Rumeli, [q.v.]) at the end of the 9th/15th or the beginning of the 10th/16th century. Although later official usage, abandoning their true name, styled them delīl (guides), they continued to be ¶ popularly known by their original name until recent times.

The delis were recruited partly among Turks and partly from Balkan nations such as the Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs.

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Note added at 28 mins (2016-03-17 17:12:28 GMT)
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عفوا