en.wiktionary.org

drum-head court - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Contents

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

drum-head court (plural drum-head courts)

  1. Alternative form of drumhead court-martial

    • 1924, Herman Melville, chapter 23, in Billy Budd‎[1], London: Constable & Co.:

      Now each proceeding that follows a mortal sentence pronounced at sea by a drum-head court is characterised by promptitude not perceptibly merging into hurry, tho' bordering that.