court martial, n.
Pl. courts martial, sometimes incorr. court-martials. Forms: α. 6–7 martial(l court, marshal(s court; β. 7–8 court marshal(l, 7– court-martial, court martial.
[Originally martial court: see martial. In 17th c. sometimes written marshall or marshall's court.]
1. A judicial court, consisting of military or naval officers, for the trial of military or naval offences, or the administration of martial law.
There are various kinds of courts martial, differing in power and function, as general, garrison, regimental.
| α 1571 Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1633) 120 They enter into consultation and call a martiall court. 1611 Beaum. & Fl. Knt. B. Pestle v. ii, As I am a soldier and a gentleman, it craves a martial-court. 1633 T. Stafford Pac. Hib. vi. (1821) 76 To try the delinquents by a Marshals Court. 1639 (Feb. 14) in Rymer Fœdera XX. 367/1 We do give.. to you full power..to hold..one or more Military or Martial or Marshal Court or Courts. |
| β 1651 in J. Seacome Hist. Ho. Stanley (1735) 135 If a judgment be given in one Court Martial, there is no appeal to any other Court Martial. 1660 Hickeringill Jamaica (1661) 78 Leaving them to the Mercy of their Opponents Court-Marshalls, who presently doom'd them to be shot to death. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 497 ¶1 Without waiting the Judgment of court-martials. 1814 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. XII. 33 The formation of the General Court Martial for the trial of Lieut. General Sir John Murray, Bart. 1844 Regul. & Ord. Army 230 The Mutiny Act restricts the award of Corporal Punishment by a General Court-Martial to 200 Lashes; by a District or Garrison Court-Martial to 150 Lashes; and by a Regimental Court-Martial to 100 Lashes. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. App. 757 Cnut's courts martial really exercised this kind of jurisdiction. |
b. drumhead court-martial: a court-martial summoned round an upturned drum, for summary treatment of offenders during military operations.
| 1835 C. Shaw Let. in Mem. War Spain II. 449, I had the thirteen ringleaders tried by a drum-head court-martial. 1864 Sala in Daily Tel. 20 Apr., There is no more law but that of drumhead court-martial. 1880 M{supc}Carthy Own Times IV. 27 Taken to Morant Bay..tried by a sort of drumhead court martial, and instantly hanged. |
c. attrib.| 1833 Palmerston in Bulwer Life (1870) II. x. 149 Hardly any [Tories] voted with us on the court-martial clauses. |
† 2. (See
quot.)
Obs.| 1632 J. Lee Survey Sweden 43 The next..is the colledge of war, wherein are handled all Martiall or Military affaires, and is called the Court marshall or martiall. To this court belongs the Councell of War..and over this court presides the great Marshall of the kingdome. |