Martel, mär′tel, v.t. (Spens.) to hammer, to strike. [Fr. marteler, It. martello. See Martello.]
Martello, mar-tel′o, n. a circular fort erected to protect a coast. [It. martello, a hammer—L. martulus, marculus, dim. of marcus, a hammer; or from Mortella Point in Corsica, where a tower of this kind withstood an English cannonade in 1794.]
Marten, mär′ten, n. a destructive kind of weasel valued for its fur. [Fr. martre, also marte—Low L. marturis, from a Teut. root seen in Ger. marder, and A.S. mearð, a marten.]
Mar-text, mär′-tekst, n. an ignorant preacher.
Martial, mär′shal, adj. belonging to Mars, the god of war, or to the planet Mars: of or belonging to war, or to the army and navy: warlike: brave.—ns. Mar′tialism; Mar′tialist.—adv. Mar′tially.—Martial law, law enforced during a state of war for the proper government of armies, and for the punishment of those who break the laws of war. [Fr.,—L. martialis—Mars, Martis.]
Martin, mär′tin, n. a bird of the swallow kind.—Also Mar′tinet. [The name Martin; cf. robin, &c.]
Martinet, mär′tin-et, n. a strict disciplinarian.—n. Martinet′ism. [From Martinet, a very strict officer in the army of Louis XIV. of France.]
Martingale, mär′tin-gāl, n. a strap passing between a horse's forelegs, fastened to the girth and to the bit, to keep his head down: in ships, a short spar under the bowsprit.—Also Mar′tingal. [Fr., from a kind of breeches worn at Martigues in Provence.]
Martinmas, mär′tin-mas, n. the mass or feast of St Martin: 11th Nov., a term-day in Scotland.
Martlet, märt′let, n. the martin, the name of a bird: (her.) a martin or swallow without feet, used as a bearing, a crest, or a mark of cadency to designate the fourth son. [From Fr. martinet, dim. of martin.]