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tan. Drumhead court-martial (Mil.), a summary court-martial called to try offenses on the battlefield or the line of march, when, sometimes, a drumhead has to do service as a writing table.

Of uncertain event or issue; as, in dubious battle.

long; to yearn. [Obs.] And ever as he rode, his heart did earn To prove his puissance in battle brave. Spenser.

r effort; splendor; brilliant show; striking effect; glory; renown. "The eclat of Homer's battles." Pope.

ce. Upon the edge of yonder coppice. Shak. In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battle. Milton. Pursue even to the very edge of destruction. Sir W. Scott.

To furnish with battlements; to fortify as with battlements. [Archaic] To embattail and to wall about thy cause With iron-worded proof. Tennyson.

A meeting, with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a bloody encounter. As one for . . . fierce encounters fit. Spenser. To join their dark encounter in mid-air. Milton .

To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle.

An action; a fight; a battle. In hot engagement with the Moors. Dryden.

arm, or of avoiding notice; deliverance from injury or any evil; flight; as, an escape in battle; a narrow escape; also, the means of escape; as, a fire escape. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm. Ps. lv. 8.

forever famous; to immortalize; as, to eternize one's self, a name, exploits. St. Alban's battle won by famous York, Shall be eternized in all age to come. Shak.

To become prostrate and dead; to die; especially, to die by violence, as in battle. A thousand shall fall at thy side. Ps. xci. 7. He rushed into the field, and, foremost fighting, fell. Byron.

lans, or parties; deadly hatred; contention satisfied only by bloodshed. Mutual feuds and battles betwixt their several tribes and kindreds. Purchas.

A place where a battle is fought; also, the battle itself. In this glorious and well-foughten field. Shak. What though the field be lost Milton.

To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause. He had to fight his way through the world. Macaulay. I have fought a good fight. 2 Tim. iv. 7.

Qualified for war; fit for battle. An host of fighting men. 2 Chron. xxvi. 11.

Conclusive; decisive; as, a final judgment; the battle of Waterloo brought the contest to a final issue.

-full, out of doors he flings. Milton. I flung closer to his breast, As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath. Mrs. Browning. To fling out, to become ugly and intractable; to utter sneers and insinuations.

To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay. Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear 1 Kinds xxii. 6.

Foremost part or place. Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle. 2 Sam. xi. 15. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, standing in the forefront for all time, the masters of those who know. J. C. Shairp.