militiamen
Armed civilian volunteers
Militiamen is the plural of militiaman—a member of a militia, which is a military force composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers.
Militias may be organized by governments as reserve forces or emerge independently, sometimes as armed groups outside official control: The militiamen gathered at the armory, Local militiamen patrolled the border.
Voluntary entry into service
- musterAssemble for inspection
- levyCompulsory government charge
- call-upOrder to serve
- draftPreliminary version of text
nonprofessional · part-time · minutemen · irregulars · auxiliaries · yeomanry · posse · vigilantes
Those fighting established authority
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- guerrillasIrregular combatants, unconventional warfare
- separatistsAutonomy-seeking faction members
- fightersThose who engage physically
warlords · faction · cell · checkpoint · roadblock · territory · AK-47 · technicals
Freedom from external control
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- nationalismDevotion to one's country
allegiance · resistance · uprising · rebellion · insurrection · forefathers · sovereignty · homeland
Long-barreled shoulder firearms
- musketsEarly shoulder-fired guns
- weaponsTools for fighting
- firearmsWeapons using explosive propulsion
- ammunitionWeapon projectiles and charges
bayonets · sidearms · pistols · cartridges · flintlocks · magazines · holsters · armory
Strengthening defenses or nutrients
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
- garrisonStationed military force
- stockadeFence of sharpened stakes
- blockhouseFortified defensive structure
stronghold · outpost · watchtower · palisade · trenches · patrol · sentry · perimeter
enlistment
Voluntary entry into service
draft · nonprofessional · part-time · minutemen · irregulars · auxiliaries · yeomanry · posse · vigilantes · untrained
insurgents
Those fighting established authority
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- guerrillasIrregular combatants, unconventional warfare
- separatistsAutonomy-seeking faction members
fighters · warlords · faction · cell · checkpoint · roadblock · territory · AK-47 · technicals · compound
independence
Freedom from external control
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
nationalism · allegiance · resistance · uprising · rebellion · insurrection · forefathers · sovereignty · homeland · republic
rifles
Long-barreled shoulder firearms
ammunition · bayonets · sidearms · pistols · cartridges · flintlocks · magazines · holsters · armory · muzzleloaders
fortification
Strengthening defenses or nutrients
blockhouse · stronghold · outpost · watchtower · palisade · trenches · patrol · sentry · perimeter · checkpoint
continental
Of a continent
- redcoatsBritish military forces
- musteringGathering or summoning
- LexingtonMassachusetts town, 1775 battle
Concord · drill · tricorn · company · regiment · captain · green · common
- colonial workersblacksmiths, carpenters, cobblers, coopers, craftsmen
- colonistscolonists, settler, Pilgrims, colonials, colonist
- military unitsarmy, battalion, squad, brigade, company
- naval reservesnaval reserves, auxiliaries, reserve forces, reservists, reserve officers
militiamenregular army
Nation's permanent military force
standing army · career soldiers · commissioned officers · special forces · regulars
militiamencivilians
Non-military population
bystanders · refugees · noncombatants · non-combatants · pacifists