Minuteman

/min"it man'/, n., pl. Minutemen.

1. (sometimes l.c.) a member of a group of American militiamen just before and during the Revolutionary War who held themselves in readiness for instant military service.

2. a U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile with three stages, powered by solid-propellant rocket engines.

3. a member of a small, secret, ultraconservative organization formed into armed groups for the declared purpose of conducting guerrilla warfare against a communist invasion of the U.S.

[1765-75, Amer.; MINUTE¹ + MAN¹]

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Colonial soldier of the American Revolution.

Minutemen were first organized in Massachusetts in September 1774, when revolutionary leaders sought to eliminate Tories, or British sympathizers, from the militia by replacing all officers. One-third of the members of each new regiment was to be ready for military duty "at a minute's warning." Their first great test took place at the Battles of Lexington and Concord. On July 18 the Continental Congress recommended that other colonies organize minuteman units.

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▪ United States history

      in U.S. history, an American Revolution militiaman who agreed to be ready for military duty “at a minute's warning.”

      The first minutemen were organized in Worcester county, Massachusetts, in September 1774, when revolutionary leaders sought to eliminate Tories from the old militia by requiring the resignation of all officers and reconstituting the men into seven regiments with new officers. One-third of the members of each regiment were to be ready to assemble under arms at instant call and were specifically designated “minutemen.” Other counties began adopting the same system, and, when Massachusetts' Provincial Congress met in Salem in October, it directed that the reorganization be completed. The first great test of the minutemen was at the Battles of Lexington and Concord (Lexington and Concord, Battles of) on April 19, 1775. On July 18, 1775, the Continental Congress recommended that other colonies organize units of minutemen; Maryland, New Hampshire, and Connecticut are known to have complied.

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