court-martial
[ kawrt-mahr-shuh l, -mahr-, kohrt- ]
/ ˈkɔrtˌmɑr ʃəl, -ˈmɑr-, ˈkoʊrt- /
noun, plural courts-mar·tial, court-mar·tials.
a court consisting of military or naval personnel appointed by a commander to try charges of offenses by soldiers, sailors, etc., against military or naval law.
a trial by such a court.
a conviction by such a court: He lost his privileges because of his court-martial.
a session of such a court: He attended the court-martial this morning.
verb (used with object), court-mar·tialed, court-mar·tial·ing or (especially British) court-mar·tialled, court-mar·tial·ling.
to arraign and try by court-martial.
Origin of court-martial
First recorded in 1565–75; earlier
martial court
Words nearby court-martial
court tennis,
court tomb,
court tv,
court-bouillon,
court-leet,
court-martial,
courtelle,
courteous,
courtesan,
courtesy,
courtesy car
British Dictionary definitions for court martial
court martial
noun plural court martials or courts martial
a military court that tries persons subject to military law
verb court-martial, -tials, -tialling or -tialled or US -tials, -tialing or -tialed
(tr)
to try by court martial