ˈmuster-roll
1. An official list of the officers and men a. in an army or some particular division of it; b. in a ship's company.
| a. 1640 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 143 They are likewise to present unto the House some fit way for a perfect Muster-Roll to be made of the King's Army. 1673 Articles & Rules for better Govt. of H.M. Forces xli, No Man shall presume to present himself to the Muster, to be Inrolled in the Muster-Rolls, by a counterfeit or wrong Name. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 444 ¶4 He shews the Muster-Roll, which confirms that he was in his Imperial Majesty's Troops. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xvii. II. 47 Inscribed on the muster-roll of their numerous armies. 1844 Thirlwall Greece lxiv. VIII. 308 He was obliged to fill up the muster-rolls with boys of sixteen. 1853 Stocqueler Milit. Encycl. s.v., The muster-rolls are called over on the 24th of each month, when every individual answers to his name. 1888 Plumptre Ken I. 162 It was believed..that pay was drawn for the troops on the strength of false muster rolls. |
| b. 1809 St. Papers in Ann. Reg. 757/2 If such a vessel is not provided with a muster-roll of the crew. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Muster-roll, a document kept by the master of every British vessel, specifying the name, age, quality, and country of every person of the ship's company. |
2. transf. and
fig.| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xvi. §7 It may bee thought I seeke to make a greate Muster-Rowle of Sciences. 1737 Pope Hor. Epist. ii. i. 124 Tho' but, perhaps, a muster-roll of Names. 1858 Bright Sp., Reform 21 Dec. (1876) 305 One of the brightest names in the muster-roll of English worthies. 1875 M{supc}Laren Serm. Ser. ii. viii. 147 The muster⁓roll of heroes of faith in the Epistle to the Hebrews. |
3. Naut. The reading of the muster-roll; roll-call.
| 1833 Marryat P. Simple xx, Having waited the usual hour before the governor's house, to answer to our muster-roll, and to be stared at, we were dismissed. 1869 W. S. Gilbert Bab Ball., Nancy Bell 36 And only ten of the Nancy's men Said ‘Here!’ to the muster roll. |