Pandur

In the second half of the 18th century the Republic of Venice used pandurs as a local militia to fight bandits in the Dalmatia area.

[1] In early 19th century Wallachia, being a Pandur was a fixed, legally recognized social status - whether or not one was a member of a specific military unit.

[4] The role of the pandurs as security guards was extended to Dalmatia after the establishment of Austrian rule there in the early 19th century.

"Pudar" is still applied to security guards protecting crops in vineyards and fields, and it was coined from the verb puditi (also spelled pudati) meaning to chase or scare away.

[6] The word was likely ultimately derived from medieval Latin banderius or bannerius, meaning either a guardian of fields or summoner,[10] or follower of a banner.