muster

/ˈmʌstər/

/ˈmʌstə/

Other forms: mustered; mustering; musters

Originally meaning "to gather soldiers," muster has been expanded to include gathering up just about anything — you can muster up some dinner, some friends, or even some ketchup, pickles, and mustard.

Remember that muster used to involve getting reluctant soldiers out of bed and into the field of battle — so it involves overcoming a certain inertia. When you muster up the courage to face something, it's clear that this is pretty scary for you.

Definitions of muster

1. verb

   gather or bring together
   “muster the courage to do something”

   synonyms: come up, muster up, rally, summon

   type of:

   collect, garner, gather, pull together

   assemble or get together
2. verb

   call to duty, military service, jury duty, etc.
   type of:

   call, send for

   order, request, or command to come
3. noun

   a gathering of military personnel for duty
   “he was thrown in the brig for missing muster”

   type of:

   assemblage, gathering

   a group of persons together in one place
4. noun

   compulsory military service
   synonyms: conscription, draft, selective service

   types:

   levy, levy en masse

   the act of drafting into military service

   type of:

   militarisation, militarization, mobilisation, mobilization

   act of assembling and putting into readiness for war or other emergency: "mobilization of the troops"