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muster roll

muster roll

8.6
A list people use to check who is present in a military unit or ship crew
  • noun
  • /ˈmʌstər roʊl/
  • Jargon
translation icon : lista de asistencia
  • The muster rolls are described by the National Archives and Records Administration as: "Bound record books for most (but not all) regiments, Record Group 94, entries 112-115."

Examples

  • The muster roll for Company I of the Fifty-fifth Regiment of the Georgia Volunteers from June to August 31, 1863, is also included.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The bottom portion of this muster roll is missing.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Many privates, who comprised the majority of soldiers, signed their muster rolls with an "X."

    Academic text (2011)
  • These muster rolls include the names and ranks of the soldiers in each company, as well as their pay information and other important notes on the soldiers.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The officer checked the muster roll to ensure all personnel were accounted for.

  • These documents serve as the official muster roll for the battalion, listing every soldier and their rank.

  • During the inspection, the captain reviewed the muster roll to verify the names of the enlisted crew.

Synonyms

roll
vsmuster roll
  • Formal
122 3.2

An official list of names kept for record

is a military personnel list naming officers and enlisted members

How Official

muster roll
  • Jargon
8.6
roster
162 2.4
to list
632 1.0

Surface Forms

muster roll singular
muster rolls plural

Morphology

muster + roll

Both constituents directly contribute to the meaning: 'muster' refers to an assembly or roll-call and 'roll' to a roster or list, so together they straightforwardly denote a list used for muster purposes. This is a compositional, administrative/military term that a B1 learner who knows both words can reasonably infer without prior exposure.

Etymology

The noun muster roll comes from old military practice: leaders would muster people, meaning 'to bring them together', and write each name on a roll, a long list. That's why a muster roll means a 'list of names' of everyone in a unit or on a ship.