martinet

[mahr-tn-et, mahr-tn-et]

noun

1. a strict disciplinarian, especially a military one.

2. someone who stubbornly adheres to methods or rules.

martinet

/ ˌmɑːtɪˈnɛt /

noun

1. a person who maintains strict discipline, esp in a military force

Other Word Forms

• martinetism noun
• martinetish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of martinet¹

1670–80; after General Jean Martinet (died 1672), French inventor of a system of drill

Word History and Origins

Origin of martinet¹

C17: from French, from the name of General Martinet, drillmaster under Louis XIV

Example Sentences

Maxwell was a society girl and the daughter of British media mogul Robert Maxwell, who doted on her, even as he was reputedly a violent martinet of a father.

From Salon

Van Zweden, in turn, was a martinet specialist in the standards who seemed appealing as an about-face from Gilbert, less electric in the core repertory.

From New York Times

That the legendary anti-interventionist Taft supported a vain martinet whose tirades included lobbying for nuclear war suggests he might have been less than a rock-solid man of principle.

From Salon

But Laws isn’t just a martinet, or the avatar of a brutal institution.

From New York Times

As are the old-fashioned words — like “martinet,” “popinjay” and “annealed” — that Galloway sprinkles through the text, the way Leigh strewed the beloved posies from her various country estates.

From New York Times