掷弹兵原先是一种专门用来投掷手榴弹与进行一些突击行动的士兵，如此特别的角色大约在十七世纪中晚期创建，此时掷弹兵通常选择最强壮最高大的士兵担任。到了十九世纪，掷弹兵实质上不再和投掷手榴弹有关，但还是选择在体格上最强力者与可以在战场上领导突袭的人担任，掷弹兵通常在包围战中领导一些攻坚行动，然而这个角色通常以被称作敢死队（Forlorn hope）的全武装志愿者来运行，且也可能由战斗工兵或先锋来运行。

到了十九世纪，法国与阿根廷创建的一种叫「马掷弹兵」的单位，类似步兵掷弹兵，这些骑马的掷弹兵也是依体型与力量来征选。

A grenadier (from French, derived from the word grenade) was originally a specialized soldier, first established as a distinct role in the mid-to-late 17th century, for the throwing of grenades and sometimes assault operations. At that time grenadiers were chosen from the strongest and largest soldiers. By the 18th century, dedicated grenade throwing of this sort was no longer relevant, but grenadiers were still chosen for being the most physically powerful soldiers and would lead assaults in the field of battle. Grenadiers would also often lead the storming of fortification breaches in siege warfare, although this role was more usually fulfilled by all-arm units of volunteers called forlorn hopes, and might also be fulfilled by sappers or pioneers.