Definition 1: A military tribunal or court that hears cases of violation of military law; a trial by such a military tribunal.
Usage 1: Today’s phrase is interesting because it is a noun phrase like "attorney general" and "poet laureate" with an adjective trailing the noun rather than preceding it. These phrases are distinct because the noun, not the adjective is pluralized: "courts martial," "attorneys general," "poets laureate." Today’s word, however, differs from the other such phrases in two respects: (1) it may be spelled with a hyphen and (2) it may be used as a simple verb. The endings on the verb occur at the end: "court-martials," "court-martialing," "court-martialed." For these reasons, the plural "court-martials" is acceptable if today’s word is hyphenated.
Suggested usage: This word is topical because of the scandal arising from photographs of the interrogation of Iraqi war prisoners that recently exploded in the news. We are all waiting to see whether high-ranking officials will face courts martial or whether only low-ranking personnel will be court-martialed. Oddly, the US government hires civilian subcontractors to interrogate prisoners. They are not subject to a court martial since they are not military personnel.
Etymology: Today’s phrase originally was "martial court" but in the late 17th century it began to appear as "court martial." "Martial" is the adjective of "Mars," the Roman god of war that is also found in the phrases "martial arts" and "martial law." Latin Mars (Mart-) is apparently a reduction of an older form, Mavors (Mavort-), probably borrowed from the name of the Oscan war god, Mamers (Mamert-). Today’s word is unrelated to its homophone, "marshal," which comes from an Old English compound marah-skalk "horse-servant," based on "marah," the ancestor of today’s "mare." (David Rendell marshaled our interest in today’s word by pointing out its topicality and unusual plural.)
—Dr. Language, yourDictionary.com
I’ve never noticed this phrase written hyphenated before, but now I’m seeing it everywhere. The use of court-martial as a verb feels a bit too chunky for my liking. Can we not just say try under military law?
British courts martial are quite similar to American ones - I suppose there’s a shared tradition. However, a British judge-advocate is almost always a senior civilian judge, and the officer representing the accused is addressed as his or her ‘friend’.
As martial is an adjective following its noun, in accordance with French syntax, it is odd to see other adjectives applied before the noun: for example, general courts martial. Furthermore, in UK law there is a Courts-Martial Appeals Court: a linguistic double or nothing.
I was shocked to read that UK courts martial could apply the death penalty until 1998. Although they probably haven’t carried out this sentence in the last fifty years.
British jouranalists have begun to write/say Geneva Conventions recently. They’ve obviously been doing their research and found four sich conventions. This plural now seems to be the in-thing in journalistic savvy.
As I was a-walking along Ratcliffe Highway
A recruiting party came a-beating my way.
They enlisted me and treated me ‘til I did not know
Unto the Queen’s barracks they forced me to go.
When first I deserted, I thought myself free
Until my cruel comrade informed against me.
I was quickly followed after and brought back with speed,
I was handcuffed and guarded, heavy irons put on me.
Court martial, court martial, they held upon me
And the sentence passed upon me, three hundred and three.
May the Lord have mercy on them for their sad cruelty,
For now the Queen’s duty lies heavy on me.
When next I deserted, I thought myself free
Until my cruel sweetheart informed against me.
I was quickly followed after and brought back with speed
I was handcuffed and guarded, heavy irons put on me.
Court martial, court martial then quickly was got
And the sentence passed upon me, that I was to be shot.
May the Lord have mercy on them for their sad cruelty,
For now the Queen’s duty lies heavy on me,
Then up rode Prince Albert in his carriage and six,
Saying, “Where is that young man whose coffin is fixed?
Set him free from his irons and let him go free,
For he’ll make a good soldier for his Queen and country.”
The Deserter [Trad. arr. Fairport Convention]
Perry
PS: "Careful! You’ll be courtmartialed." actually sounds less clumsy than, "Careful! You’ll be tried under military law.". But that is just my ‘umble opinion.
I do believe you’re right, Katy. A sailor would be bound to the mizzenmast for the captain to try on deck. An event that could lead to the cat o’ nine tails or keel-hauling.
That reminds me of the term drumhead hearing, a field court martial.
In his last reply Garzo wrote: "The use of court martial as a verb seems a bit too chunky for my liking."
I have a friend—he, like I, is a Quebecer (Quebecois in French)—who takes nouns and converts them into verbs. I find it amusing and delightful, and I guess we have found a unique way of speaking; and sometimes we write that way, too, in e-mails. My friend is fluently bilingual, much more so than I am. Anyway . . .
For example, take the noun "chess," which we often play at our favourite coffee house, Le Chocolatté. We ask each other if we are "chessing" this afternoon . . .
"Are you in the mood to chess? . . . Let’s chess each other out," and of course, "I’m all chessed out now!"
Now I know this might sound strange to some (and an abomination to others, no doubt), but here’s a question that might open up an entirely new debate. I don’t know. Someone will have to decide because I’m very subjective where all this is concerned.
My question is, Who decides when a noun could or should be used a verb—tradition, linguists, grammarians, etc.?
[quote author=McKenzie link=board=todays;num=1084541344;start=0#4 date=05/14/04 at 17:05:23]My question is, Who decides when a could or should be used a verb—tradition, linguists, grammarians, etc.?
Being the practicarian that I am, I know that others out there will disagree with me, as well, but here are my opinions:
The bottom line is this: In any given conversation, only two people decide when a noun can or should be used as a verb—the speaker and the listener.
Tradition represents what people have grown accustomed to, while linguists, technically, merely explain and document how language is used. Grammarians, of course, could be argued to be the gatekeepers of our formalities of language; but, in the long run, all they really can do is try to teach and ingrain.
Of course, ‘CNN’ like any other word or phrase can be used as a verb (what I call "temporary verbs!"). Whether or not it will become a "permanent verb" only time will tell!
I remember when I was in Montréal having trouble working out what time of day to have déjeuner, or was it dîner?
If enough people use an expression, and it is useful, it will find its way into a dictionary at some point. In some ways it is quite useful to break down the barriers between nouns and verbs, but I find doing this with compounds rather disturbing.
I often overhear a phrase like: "I childminded for Claire yesterday". Why not: "I minded Claire’s children yesterday"?
I don’t think I’ll be needing the verb to court-martial anytime soon.
Corporal: You’re for the high jump, laddie! Squaddie: I didn’t know it was loaded, corp’.
With babysit I would suggest the verb to sit and the noun baby are used (inflected as necessary). I suggest that the preposition for is preferable to on.
"Careful! You’ll be courtmartialed." actually sounds less clumsy than, "Careful! You’ll be tried under military law.". But that is just my ‘umble opinion.
Garzo:
In some ways it is quite useful to break down the barriers between nouns and verbs, but I find doing this with compounds rather disturbing.
Well, we all have our little forts of resistance! As for me, I find the verb "to court-martial" just fine and dandy!
Language smooths all the rough edges eventually!
Surrender now!
Sitran
McKenzie:
I’m sorry, Everyone, I just have to do this�fix the errrors I made in my reply.
Unless we have questions as to what was meant, fixing errors is purely cosmetic. I like to do it too, but we all make mistakes. No apaologies [sic] are necessary!
[quote author=gailr link=board=todays;num=1084541344;start=0#14 date=05/14/04 at 18:47:27]have a care, Quartermaster Sergeant Garzo!
Going awol is a court-martial-able offense!
General GailR
sounds like a mouthful…." court-martial-able offense!"
Re: Court Martial - I have always found the British plural form ‘courts martials’ interesting. It is actually a carry over from the Norman-French. Americans say court martials.
That’s Shirley, Sir! to you. :D
Although I was over-hyphen-ating because it looks odd, see: court-martialable
gailr who prefers to speak with a civilian tongue.
