noun
- a company of citizen soldiers trained for local defense, especially in 16th and 17th century England
Usage: historical
Examples
- The London trainbands were called out to defend the city during the civil war.
- Each parish was required to maintain a trainband of able-bodied men.
- The trainband drilled every Sunday after church services.
- Members of the trainband provided their own weapons and equipment.
- The captain inspected his trainband before the monthly muster.
- Local trainbands served as the primary defense force for many English towns.