Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Martial
1.
Of, pertaining to, or suited for, war; military;
“Martial equipage.” as,
martial
music; a martial
appearance. Milton.
2.
Practiced in, or inclined to, war; warlike; brave.
But peaceful kings, o’er
Each other's poise and counterbalance are.
martial
people set,Each other's poise and counterbalance are.
Dryden.
3.
Belonging to war, or to an army and navy; – opposed to
civil
; as,
martial
law; a court-martial
.4.
Pertaining to, or resembling, the god, or the planet, Mars.
Sir T. Browne.
5.
(Old Chem. & Old Med.)
Pertaining to, or containing, iron; chalybeate;
as,
. martial
preparations[Archaic]
Martial flowers
(Med.)
, a reddish crystalline salt of iron; the ammonio-chloride of iron.
[Obs.]
– Martial law
, the law administered by the military power of a government when it has superseded the civil authority in time of war, or when the civil authorities are unable to enforce the laws. It is distinguished from military law, the latter being the code of rules for the regulation of the army and navy alone, either in peace or in war.
Martial refers more to war in action, its array, its attendants, etc.; as, martial music, a martial appearance, a martial array, courts-martial, etc. Warlike describes the feeling or temper which leads to war, and the adjuncts of war; as, a warlike nation, warlike indication, etc. The two words are often used without discrimination.
Webster 1828 Edition
Martial
M`ARTIAL
,Adj.
1.
Pertaining to war; suited to war; as martial equipage; martial music; a martial appearance.2.
Warlike; brave; given to war; as a martial nation or people.3.
Suited to battle; as a martial array.4.
Belonging to war, or to an army and navy; opposed to civil; as martial law; a court martial.5.
Pertaining to Mars, or borrowing the properties of that planet. The natures of the fixed start are esteemed martial or jovial, according to the colors by which they answer to those planets.
6.
Having the properties if iron, called by the old chimists, Mars.