drumhead court-martial

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. a military court convened to hear urgent charges of offenses committed in action
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Drumhead \Drum"head`\, n.

1.The parchment or skin stretched over one end of a drum. [1913 Webster]

2.The top of a capstan which is pierced with sockets for levers used in turning it. See Illust. of Capstan. [1913 Webster]

Drumhead court-martial (Mil.), a summary court-martial called to try offenses on the battlefield or the line of march, when, sometimes, a drumhead has to do service as a writing table. [1913 Webster]

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