Martinet
/ˌmɑːrtɪˈnɛt/noun
A person who imposes strict discipline and demands absolute obedience.
Did you know?Jean Martinet served under Louis XIV and became notorious for enforcing relentless military discipline, so his surname entered French and then English as a symbol of rigid authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*Māwort-
“A reconstructed name associated with the war god later known as Mars”
Ancient Latin
Latin
Mars; Martinus
“Mars, the Roman god of war; Martinus, meaning “of Mars””
Medieval Period
French
Martin
“A personal name derived from Latin Martinus”
17th Century
French
Jean Martinet
“The surname of a French military inspector and drillmaster famed for severe discipline”
Late 17th Century
French
martinet
“A strict military disciplinarian, named after Jean Martinet”
18th Century
English
martinet
“A rigid, authoritarian disciplinarian”