court-martial

¹court–mar·tial

noun \ˈkȯrt-ˌmär-shəl, -ˈmär-\

plural courts–martial also court–martials

Definition of COURT-MARTIAL

1

: a court consisting of commissioned officers and in some instances enlisted personnel for the trial of members of the armed forces or others within its jurisdiction

2

: a trial by court-martial

First Known Use of COURT-MARTIAL

1651

²court–martial

transitive verb

–mar·tialed also –mar·tialled–mar·tial·ing also –mar·tial·ling \-ˌmär-sh(ə-)liŋ, -ˈmär-\

Definition of COURT-MARTIAL

: to subject to trial by court-martial

First Known Use of COURT-MARTIAL

1833

court-martial

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Military court for hearing charges brought against members of the armed forces or others within its jurisdiction; also, the legal proceeding of such a court. Most countries today have military codes of justice administered by military courts, often subject to civilian appellate review. Courts-martial are generally convened as ad hoc courts to try one or more cases referred by some high military authority. The convening officer chooses officers, and sometimes enlisted personnel, from his or her command to sit on the court, determine guilt or innocence, and hand down sentences. See also military law.