drumhead court-martial

2 definitions found

drumhead court-martial - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Drumhead \Drum"head`\, n.
     1. The parchment or skin stretched over one end of a drum.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The top of a capstan which is pierced with sockets for
        levers used in turning it. See Illust. of Capstan.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Drumhead court-martial (Mil.), a summary court-martial
        called to try offenses on the battlefield or the line of
        march, when, sometimes, a drumhead has to do service as a
        writing table.
        [1913 Webster]

drumhead court-martial - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  drumhead court-martial
      n 1: a military court convened to hear urgent charges of
           offenses committed in action