The Voltigeurs were French military skirmish units created in 1804 by Emperor Napoleon I. ==Etymology== Voltigeurs (lit. Vaulters) hold their name from their originally conceived role of cavalry-transported skirmishers: the voltigeurs were intended to jump onto the croup of cavalry horses in order to advance more quickly on the battlefield. This p... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltigeur
Vol`ti·geur noun [ French, from voltiger to vault, Italian volteggiare . See Volt a tread.] 1. A tumbler; a leaper or vaulter. 2. (Mil.) One of a picked company of irregular riflemen in each regiment of the French infantry. Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/V/35