Continental \Con`ti*nen"tal\, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a continent.

2. Of or pertaining to the main land of Europe, in distinction from the adjacent islands, especially England; as, a continental tour; a continental coalition. --Macaulay.

No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of continental alliances. --Hallam.

3. (Amer. Hist.) Of or pertaining to the confederated colonies collectively, in the time of the Revolutionary War; as, Continental money.

The army before Boston was designated as the Continental army, in contradistinction to that under General Gage, which was called the ``Ministerial army.'' --W. Irving.

Continental Congress. See under Congress.

Continental system (Hist.), the blockade of Great Britain ordered by Napoleon by the decree of Berlin, Nov. 21, 1806; the object being to strike a blow at the maritime and commercial supremacy of Great Britain, by cutting her off from all intercourse with the continent of Europe.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)