drumhead court-martial
noun
a court-martial held, usually on a battlefield, for the summary trial of charges of offenses committed during military operations.
Origin of drumhead court-martial
First recorded in 1825–35; so called from the use of a drumhead as a table during the court-martial
Words nearby drumhead court-martial
drumbeater,
drumette,
drumfire,
drumfish,
drumhead,
drumhead court-martial,
drumhead service,
drumlin,
drumly,
drummer,
drummock
British Dictionary definitions for drumhead court-martial
drumhead court-martial
noun
a military court convened to hear urgent charges of offences committed in action
Word Origin for drumhead court-martial
C19: from the use of a drumhead as a table around which the court-martial was held