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rried on by enemies; hostilities; war. The Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. I Sam. xxviii. 1. This day from battle rest; Faithful hath been your warfare. Milton.

One engaged in warfare; a military man; a soldier; a warrior.

aster, and therefore called the field of blood. Fig.: A field of bloodshed. The system of warfare . . . which had already converted immense tracts into one universal aceldama. De Quincey.

A weapon of offense or defense; an instrument of warfare; -- commonly in the pl.

Munitions of war; implements for warfare, as slings, bows, and arrows. [Obs.] And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad. 1 Sam. xx. 40.

The quality of being belligerent; act or state of making war; warfare.

A nation or state recognized as carrying on war; a person engaged in warfare.

ne of the Anglo-Saxon chieftains who was chosen by the other chiefs to lead them in their warfare against the British tribes. Brande & C.

The crimes or warfare of bushwhackers. [U.S.]

d. -- Chain shot (Mil.), two cannon balls united by a shot chain, formerly used in naval warfare on account of their destructive effect on a ship's rigging. -- Chain stitch. See in the Vocabulary. -- Chain timber. (Arch.) See Bond timber, under Bond. -- Chain wales. (Naut.) Same as Channels. -- Chain wheel. See in…

s, to dig in manure.(b) To entrench oneself so as to give stronger resistance; -- used of warfare. Also figuratively, esp. in the phrase to dig in one's heels.

unfit for service; to impair. A Christian's life is a perpetual exercise, a wrestling and warfare, for which sensual pleasure disables him. Jer. Taylor. And had performed it, if my known offense Had not disabled me. Milton. I have disabled mine estate. Shak.

A sudden or irregular incursion in border warfare; hence, any irregular incursion for war or spoils; a raid. Spenser. The huge Earl Doorm, . . . Bound on a foray, rolling eyes of prey. Tennyson.

One who plunders or pillages without the authority of national warfare; a member of a predatory band; a pillager; a buccaneer; a sea robber. Bacon.

One who carries on, or assists in carrying on, irregular warfare; especially, a member of an independent band engaged in predatory excursions in war time.

An act of an open enemy; a hostile deed; especially in the plural, acts of warfare; attacks of an enemy. We have showed ourselves generous adversaries . . . and have carried on even our hostilities with humanity. Atterbury. He who proceeds to wanton hostility, often provokes an enemy where he might have a friend. Crabb…

Clad in iron; protected or covered with iron, as a vessel for naval warfare.

The state of being militant; warfare.

Engaged in warfare; fighting; combating; serving as a soldier. -- Mil"i*tant*ly, adv. At which command the powers militant... Moved on in silence. Milton. Church militant, the Christian church on earth, which is supposed to be engaged in a constant warfare against its enemies, and is thus distinguished from the church…

Military service; warfare. [Obs.] Baxter.