martin

n. [ F. martin, from the proper name Martin. Cf. Martlet. ] (Zool.) One of several species of swallows, usually having the tail less deeply forked than the tail of the common swallows. [ Written also marten. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The American purple martin, or bee martin (Progne subis or Progne purpurea), and the European house martin, or window martin (Hirundo urbica or Chelidon urbica), are the best known species. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bank martin. (a) The bank swallow. See under Bank. (b) The fairy martin. See under Fairy. --
Bee martin. (a) The purple martin. (b) The kingbird. --
Sand martin, the bank swallow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called from an officer of that name in the French army under Louis XIV. Cf. Martin the bird, Martlet. ] In military language, a strict disciplinarian; in general, one who lays stress on a rigid adherence to the details of discipline, or to forms and fixed methods. [ Hence, the word is commonly employed in a depreciatory sense. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] (Zool.) The martin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Sp. martinete. ] (Zool.) A species of tinamou (Calopezus elegans), having a long slender crest. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The principles or practices of a martinet; rigid adherence to discipline, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. martingale; cf. It. martingala a sort of hose, martingale, Sp. martingala a greave, cuish, martingale, Sp. almártaga a kind of bridle. ] 1. A strap fastened to a horse's girth, passing between his fore legs, and fastened to the bit, or now more commonly ending in two rings, through which the reins pass. It is intended to hold down the head of the horse, and prevent him from rearing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) A lower stay of rope or chain for the jib boom or flying jib boom, fastened to, or reeved through, the dolphin striker. Also, the dolphin striker itself. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Gambling) The act of doubling, at each stake, that which has been lost on the preceding stake; also, the sum so risked; -- metaphorically derived from the bifurcation of the martingale of a harness. Called also Martingale strategy. Such a betting strategy does not change the overall likelihood of winning, but in a short run it increases the probability of winning a small sum, balancing it against an increased probability of losing a large sum. [ Cant ] Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]