muster

noun

1. Synonym of mustee.

   “The next, the Quadroon, from the white and mulatto woman. The third descent, from a white and quadroon, is called a muster; from the fourth, between a white and a muster, springs the musteephinas and the fifth descent, viz. from a white and musteephina, is white by law, and of free birth; indeed the two latter classes are as white as a European.”

   “Mixed bloods, they are suspended between two races, — mulattoes, quadroons, musters, mustafinas, cabres, griffies, zambis, quatravis, tresalvis, coyotes, saltatras, albarassados, cambusos, — neither white nor black, but Negroes.”

verb

Etymology: From Middle English musteren, borrowed from Anglo-Norman mostrer, Middle French monstrer, moustrer (whence the noun monstre, which gave the English noun), from Latin mōnstrō (“to show”), from moneō (“to admonish”). Cognate with French montrer (“to show”), Italian mostrare (“to show”), Spanish mostrar (“to show”). See also monster.

1. To show, exhibit.
2. To be gathered together for parade, inspection, exercise, or the like (especially of a military force); to come together as parts of a force or body.

   “We were then in the third week of November; but, we took our measures so vigorously, and were so well seconded by the friends in whom we confided, that there was still a week of the month unexpired, when our party all came down together merrily, and mustered in the haunted house.”

   “The whole male population, men and boys, mustered on the top of the hill.”

3. To collect, call or assemble together, such as troops or a group for inspection, orders, display etc.

   “12 July 2012, Sam Adams, AV Club Ice Age: Continental Drift With the help of some low-end boosting, Dinklage musters a decent amount of kid-appropriate menace—although he never does explain his gift for finding chunks of ice shaped like pirate ships—but Romano and Leary mainly sound bored, droning through their lines as if they’re simultaneously texting the contractors building the additions on their houses funded by their fat sequel paychecks.”

4. To enroll (into service).
5. To gather or round up livestock.
6. To look within oneself to summon (a particular positive quality, such as strength, energy or courage); see: muster up.

   “I couldn't muster the courage to tell him.”

   “That which Walter Raleigh had not courage to tell, not one of these men could muster the courage to ask.”