militia English · revision 15361

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1590|origins=la mīles}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /məˈlɪʃə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|mīlitia|t=military service, warfare]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|mīles|t=soldier]] (stem milit-; see [[military]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A system of military discipline, a military force: 1590 in Barnhart, the OED and Merriam-Webster.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Trench notes that in the 17th century, in the contests between Charles I and Parliament, the militia meant the whole military force of the nation.^(Trench 1859)^(OED 1989) The control of the armed forces is from 1622.^(OED 1989) The sense of a citizen army, distinct from professional soldiers, is first recorded in 1696, in Phillips's dictionary, perhaps from French [[m|fr|milice]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) In American use it was by 1777 the whole body of men liable by law to military service.^(Etymonline) Militiaman is American English from 1780.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1590 – a military system or force.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1622 – control of the armed forces.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1696 – a citizen army.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1780 – militiaman.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An army of ordinary citizens rather than professional [[soldier|alt=soldiers]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A military force called out only in an emergency.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The whole body of fit civilians eligible by law for military service.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[militiaman]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[military]]

+ * [[militant]]

+ * [[militate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}