See Also: militia(dictionary)
militia(encyclopedia)
militia(dictionary)

militia (iou)



militia noun. L16.
[Latin = military service, warfare, war, from milit-, miles soldier.]
A system of military discipline, organization, and tactics; a manner or means of conducting warfare. L16-L17.
A military force, a body of soldiers; spec. a military force raised from the civilian population, as distinguished from mercenaries or professional soldiers; an auxiliary military force drawn from the civilian population in order to supplement the regular forces in an emergency; collect. the members of such a militia. L16.
C. Merivale A genuine militia, chosen from the citizens themselves. Westminster Gazette The Militia must in future be 'more soldierly'. D. Jacobson The call-up of new recruits and reservists into the militia. Times They feared reprisals from left-wing militias. attrib.: Merle Collins Come out, militia members, this is the time to defend your country.
The body of people, usu. men, legally liable to military service, without enlistment. US. L18.
Comb.: militiaman a member of a militia; militiawoman a female member of a militia.