drumhead court-martial

American  

noun

1. a court-martial held, usually on a battlefield, for the summary trial of charges of offenses committed during military operations.

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drumhead court-martial British  

noun

1. a military court convened to hear urgent charges of offences committed in action

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Etymology

Origin of drumhead court-martial

First recorded in 1825–35; so called from the use of a drumhead as a table during the court-martial

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drumhead court-martial

There were really no incriminating papers of any description upon me, but my being seen and associating with persons opposed to the provisional government was quite enough to place me before a drumhead court-martial.

From The Secrets of the German War Office by Graves, Dr. Armgaard Karl

So they give Afiola a sort of drumhead court-martial, and bounced him unanimous, and all the pent-up deviltry of the man came out of him at one lick, like touching off a dynamite cartridge.

From Wild Justice: Stories of the South Seas by Osbourne, Lloyd

But for British magnanimity a drumhead court-martial should have taken the place of the hospitality of the Ceylon planters.

From The Great Boer War by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir

The next day Gen. Ward organized a drumhead court-martial and tried those captured who were not wounded.

From Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson And Twenty Great Battles by McElroy, John

It was not considered wise to let them loose in England, and if they went back to Germany they might have to face the music of a drumhead court-martial.

From The Romance of a Pro-Consul Being The Personal Life And Memoirs Of The Right Hon. Sir George Grey, K.C.B. by Milne, James