Word of the Day

: January 27, 2010

martinet

noun mar-tuh-NET

What It Means

1 : a strict disciplinarian

2 : a person who stresses a rigid adherence to the details of forms and methods

martinet in Context

Spencer complained that his office manager was a power-hungry martinet who compelled him to follow ridiculous rules.

Did You Know?

When France's King Louis XIV appointed Lieutenant Colonel Jean Martinet to be inspector general of the infantry in the late 17th century, he made a wise choice. As a drillmaster, Martinet trained his troops to advance into battle in precise linear formations and to fire in volleys only upon command, thus making the most effective use of inaccurate muskets -- and making the French army one of the best on the continent. He also gave English a new word. "Martinet" has been used synonymously with "strict disciplinarian" since the 1730s.