Azeb

Azebs, azabs, or azaps (Ottoman Turkish: عزب, from Arabic, literally unmarried, meaning bachelor), also known as Asappes or Asappi, were irregular soldiers, originally made up of unmarried youths. They were conscripted among reayas and served in various roles in the early Ottoman army. The word azeb either often indicates a light infantry soldier which was called yaya azeb or a marine soldier which was called bahriye (navy) and deniz (sea) azeb. The term was used in the sense of "pirate" or "buccaneer" in Byzantine, Latin, and Italian sources from the 14th to 16th centuries.