drumhead court-martial

noun

1. a court-martial held, usually on a battlefield, for the summary trial of charges of offenses committed during military operations.

drumhead court-martial

noun

1. a military court convened to hear urgent charges of offences committed in action

Word History and Origins

Origin of drumhead court-martial¹

First recorded in 1825–35; so called from the use of a drumhead as a table during the court-martial

Word History and Origins

Origin of drumhead court-martial¹

C19: from the use of a drumhead as a table around which the court-martial was held

Example Sentences

"All the rebel Sepoys and troopers who were captured, were collectively tried by a drumhead court-martial, and hanged."

From Project Gutenberg

The next day Gen. Ward organized a drumhead court-martial and tried those captured who were not wounded.

From Project Gutenberg

A drumhead court-martial sentenced the young Virginian to receive one hundred lashes on the bare back.

From Project Gutenberg

So they give Afiola a sort of drumhead court-martial, and bounced him unanimous, and all the pent-up deviltry of the man came out of him at one lick, like touching off a dynamite cartridge.

From Project Gutenberg

The elderly and old-fashioned Anglo-Egyptian militarist, with his doctrine and discipline of the barrack-room and the drumhead court-martial, was never regarded by the workers with a shade of suspicion.

From Project Gutenberg