Light infantry (or
skirmishers) are soldiers whose job was to provide a
skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of
infantry,
harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from
medium,
heavy or
line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight formations that were the core of large
battles. Light infantry fought in open-order, often in close co-ordination with heavy infantry, where they could screen the heavy infantry from harassing fire, and the heavy infantry could intervene to protect the light infantry from attacks of enemy heavy infantry or
cavalry. Heavy infantry originally had heavier arms and more
armour than light infantry, but this distinction was lost as the use of armour declined and gunpowder weapons became standardized.