General
red leg
What does red leg mean?
An artilleryman, named for the red stripe historically worn on artillery trousers.
"He's a red leg, been on the guns his whole career."
Origin
U.S. Army artillery; from the red trouser stripe of artillery uniforms.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'red leg'?
A field-artillery soldier — someone who serves on the big guns.
Why are artillerymen called red legs?
From the red stripe historically worn down the trouser leg of artillery uniforms, which set the branch apart by color.
Is 'red leg' a proud term?
Yes. Artillery soldiers use it with branch pride, e.g. 'he's a red leg, been on the guns his whole career.'
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
