council of war

American  

noun

1. a conference of high-ranking military or naval officers, usually for discussing a major emergency or war problem.

2. any conference for discussing or deciding upon a course of action.

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council of war British  

noun

1. an assembly of military leaders in wartime

2. an emergency meeting to formulate a plan

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Etymology

Origin of council of war

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

It was not wasted time: they held a council of war.

From Literature

In a meeting at his bedside, Barry recounts how he told negotiators: “Gentlemen, this is not a meeting of the Peace Commission. It is more a Council of War.”

From Washington Post

For more than six months, Washington had pleaded with his council of war to approve an amphibious assault on the British garrison.

From Washington Post

This year’s Bilderberg summit is a council of war.

From The Guardian

“Well, I didn’t come to Kansas to party, my boy. Ceres asked me here for a council of war. What with Gaea rising, the crops are withering. Droughts are spreading. The karpoi are in revolt. Even my grapes aren’t safe. Ceres wanted a united front in the plant war.”

From Literature