from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Muster \Mus"ter\, n. [OE. moustre, OF. mostre, moustre, F.
montre, LL. monstra. See {Muster}, v. t.]
1. Something shown for imitation; a pattern. [Obs.]
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2. A show; a display. [Obs.] --Piers Plowman.
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3. An assembling or review of troops, as for parade,
verification of numbers, inspection, exercise, or
introduction into service.
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The hurried muster of the soldiers of liberty.
--Hawthorne.
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See how in warlike muster they appear,
In rhombs, and wedges, and half-moons, and wings.
--Milton.
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4. The sum total of an army when assembled for review and
inspection; the whole number of effective men in an army.
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And the muster was thirty thousands of men.
--Wyclif.
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Ye publish the musters of your own bands, and
proclaim them to amount of thousands. --Hooker.
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5. Any assemblage or display; a gathering.
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Of the temporal grandees of the realm, mentof their
wives and daughters, the muster was great and
splendid. --Macaulay.
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{Muster book}, a book in which military forces are
registered.
{Muster file}, a muster roll.
{Muster master} (Mil.), one who takes an account of troops,
and of their equipment; a mustering officer; an inspector.
[Eng.]
{Muster roll} (Mil.), a list or register of all the men in a
company, troop, or regiment, present or accounted for on
the day of muster.
{To pass muster}, to pass through a muster or inspection
without censure.
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Such excuses will not pass muster with God. --South.
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