The term 'Old Indian Infantryman' can be summarized as a SEPOY, which is a five-letter word. A SEPOY was a SOLDIER in the infantry of the British Indian Army, which was active from the mid-18th century to 1947. The term SEPOY is derived from the Persian word sipahi, which means 'SOLDIER'. SEPOYS were recruited from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. They were trained in the use of firearms and other weapons, and were responsible for defending the British Empire in India.