English

Noun

martinet ‎(plural martinets)

1. (military) A strict disciplinarian.
   • 1915, Emerson Hough, The Purchase Price, chapterI:

     Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile ; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.

2. (figuratively) Anyone who lays stress on a rigid adherence to the details of discipline, or to forms and fixed methods or rules.

Etymology 2

From French

Noun

martinet ‎(plural martinets)

1. A martin; a swift

French

Etymology

From marteau ‎(“hammer”), from Latin martulus ‎(“hammer”)

Noun

martinet m ‎(plural martinets)

1. a multi-tail whip, comprising leather or whipcord thongs fixed on a handle, to dust off or to administer a beating (usually to a child's bottom)
2. a mechanical hammer on a motor-driven cogwheel, as used to beat metal
3. the swallow-like bird species martin, black with a white throat
4. swift (bird)

Anagrams

• méritant, terminât