generalship

Everyday

1. The skill of a general in leading an army and planning battles. tree →
2. Clever leadership and planning of any big task. tree →

In the lessons

A history word for military leaders like Wellington or Napoleon. In The Wind in the Willows Badger, Rat, Mole and Toad plan the attack to win back Toad Hall from the stoats and weasels, and Rat organises everything like a general: that is generalship.

Examples

• Wellington's generalship won the Battle of Waterloo. tree →
• Napoleon was famous for his generalship. tree →
• Rat showed fine generalship in planning the attack on Toad Hall. tree →
• Good generalship means caring for your soldiers and planning well. tree →
• Her generalship of the school fair made it a great success. tree →
• The battle was lost through poor generalship. tree →

Note

Uncountable. From «general» (an army leader) + -ship (skill or state, as in leadership, friendship). Formal and a bit old-fashioned outside history.