Where did the word martial arts come from?

Where did the word martial arts come from?
In the etymology of English, French, and Latin languages, the term "martial" is derived from "Mars" which is the Roman god of war. However, the earliest recorded use of the term "Martial Art" was in reference to fencing (sword fighting), and was specifically applied to this form of combat because of the unique blend of refined skill of weaponry with a code of honor. It wasn't just about "fighting" with a sword, but called an "art" because the sword experts lived by rules of ethical conduct in applying their skills.

This term later shifted to a description of Asian fighting skills that were notably more refined and technically advanced from the average brawler, boxer or street-fighter long ago, and because it contained the blend of philosophical and spiritual development. The "way of the warrior," from a Martial Art standpoint, was training to be highly skilled in combat (particularly unarmed fighting), yet humble, and peaceful in everyday life. The warrior could end the lives of dozens of enemies in combat at one moment, then return to ordinary life where the focus was on the value of appreciating life, music, poetry, art, calligraphy, etc. A true Martial Artist lived by a code of conduct which made the warrior a peaceful, positive influence in society.

It is a common error among laypersons and novice to think that "Martial Art" only refers to the physical act of combat, or fighting. This over-simplified, modern definition of the term "Martial Art" being simply construed as the "art of war" or "skill of fighting" is a creation of young, uneducated minds trying to apply common sense logic to a deeper philosophy that has been well established for hundreds of years. Modern definition of this term, and usage might change with the latest fad, but the original meaning referred only to a select group of highly skilled masters of unarmed combat which was combined with a balance of body, mind and spiritual training as a way of life.