Hypertext Webster Gateway: "militia"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Militia \Mi*li"tia\, n. [L., military service, soldiery, fr.
miles, militis, soldier: cf. F. milice.]
1. In the widest sense, the whole military force of a nation,
including both those engaged in military service as a
business, and those competent and available for such
service; specifically, the body of citizens enrolled for
military instruction and discipline, but not subject to be
called into actual service except in emergencies.
The king's captains and soldiers fight his battles,
and yet . . . the power of the militia is he. --Jer.
Taylor.
2. Military service; warfare. [Obs.] --Baxter.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
militia
n : civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular
army [syn: {reserves}]
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