A
toy soldier is a miniature
figurine that represents a
soldier. The term applies to depictions of uniformed
military personnel from all eras, and includes
knights,
cowboys,
pirates,
samurais and other subjects that involve
combat-related themes. Toy soldiers vary from simple
playthings to highly realistic and detailed
models. The latter are of more recent development and are sometimes called
model figures to distinguish them from traditional toy soldiers. Larger scale toys such as
dolls and
action figures may come in military uniforms, but they are not generally considered toy soldiers.