The term acrites (frontiersman) is the transliteration of the Greek word ακρίτης, deriving from άκρα meaning edges - frontiers, being the Greek rendition of Latin limitaneus. It first appears in the 10th century. Byzantine historian Porphyrogenytus mentions that
"περιπατούσιν εμπρόσθεν του βασιλέως ακρίται πεντακόσιοι άνδρες εξωπλισμένοι".
"...ahead of the emperor marched 500 armed frontiersmen (acrites/ακρίτες)..."
