noun
a former executive department of the United States government; created in 1789 and combined with the Navy Department in 1947 (Freq. 1)
• Hypernyms: ↑executive department
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U.S. Hist.
the department of the federal government that, from 1789 until 1947, was responsible for defense and the military establishment: in 1947 it became the Department of the Army, which became part of the Department of Defense when it was established in 1949.
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War Department noun
The name borne 1784–1857 by what became the War Office, still used in speaking of property such as stores or land
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Main Entry: ↑war
Useful english dictionary. 2012.