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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To pass muster

Muster \Mus"ter\, n. [OE. moustre, OF. mostre, moustre, F. montre, LL. monstra. See Muster, v. t.]

  1. Something shown for imitation; a pattern. [Obs.]

  2. A show; a display. [Obs.]
    --Piers Plowman.

  3. An assembling or review of troops, as for parade, verification of numbers, inspection, exercise, or introduction into service.

    The hurried muster of the soldiers of liberty.
    --Hawthorne.

    See how in warlike muster they appear, In rhombs, and wedges, and half-moons, and wings.
    --Milton.

  4. The sum total of an army when assembled for review and inspection; the whole number of effective men in an army.

    And the muster was thirty thousands of men.
    --Wyclif.

    Ye publish the musters of your own bands, and proclaim them to amount of thousands.
    --Hooker.

  5. Any assemblage or display; a gathering.

    Of the temporal grandees of the realm, mentof their wives and daughters, the muster was great and splendid.
    --Macaulay.

    Muster book, a book in which military forces are registered.

    Muster file, a muster roll.

    Muster master (Mil.), one who takes an account of troops, and of their equipment; a mustering officer; an inspector.

    Muster roll (Mil.), a list or register of all the men in a company, troop, or regiment, present or accounted for on the day of muster.

    To pass muster, to pass through a muster or inspection without censure.

    Such excuses will not pass muster with God.
    --South.