Zouave was the title given to certain light infantry regiments in the French Army, normally serving in French North Africa between 1831 and 1962. The name was also adopted during the 19th century by units in other armies, like volunteer regiments raised for service in the American Civil War, or Brazilian Free Black volunteers in Paraguayan War,Kraay, Hendrick "I Die with My Country: Perspectives on the Paraguayan War, 1864-1870"University of Nebraska, 2004 ISBN 0803227620 Chapter 4 "Patriotic Mobilization in Brazil; The Zuavos and Other Black Companies"View on Google Books for example.