non-ˈcombatant
[non- 2.]
One who is not a combatant, as a civilian in time of war; spec. in the army and navy, one whose duties do not include that of fighting, as a surgeon, purser, or chaplain.
| 1811 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1838) VIII. 493 The..pay of non-combatants and pensioners. 1813 Ibid. XI. 78 In former wars, a person in your situation would have been considered a non-combatant and would have been immediately released. 1897 Gen. Porter in Cent. Mag. Feb. 494 Many of the non-combatants had gone away. |
b. attrib. or as adj.
| 1868 Rep. to Govt. U.S. Munitions War 196 Hospital attendants..employed in the transport of wounded.., while non-combatant and solely occupied in these duties [etc.]. 1881 E. Robertson in Encycl. Brit. XIII. 194/1 That the non-combatant portions of the two communities should remain as though they were in a state of peace. |