3 uses
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Definition
relating to war or soldiers
most commonly seen in these expressions:
- "court martial" — a military court that tries military personnel using military law (which is different than civilian law)
- "martial law" — the body of law imposed by the military over civilian affairs which can be declared to replace ordinary civilian law in a time of crisis
- But butchers, also, and butchers of the bloodiest badge have been all Martial Commanders whom the world invariably delights to honour.Chapters 22-24 -- Merry Christmas; The Lee Shore; The Advocate (60% in)
- In good time, though, to his great delight, the three salt-sea warriors would rise and depart; to his credulous, fable-mongering ears, all their martial bones jingling in them at every step, like Moorish scimetars in scabbards.Chapters 34-36 -- The Cabin-Table; The Mast-Head; The Qarter-Deck--Ahab and all (26% in)
- The compact martial columns in which they had been hitherto rapidly and steadily swimming, were now broken up in one measureless rout; and like King Porus' elephants in the Indian battle with Alexander, they seemed going mad with consternation.Chapters 85-87 -- The Fountain; The Tail; The Grand Armada (67% in)
There are no more uses of "martial" in Moby Dick.
Typical Usage
(best examples)