What's civil about a civil war?

Wouldn't a Bürgerkrieg be a war between burghers? I mean, if your splitting hairs like you are, wouldn't a war between "citi"zens then be a war between people living in a "city"? But I do get your pun and your point that the term "civil war" can be an oxymoron.

Nothing..War is a fool's idear of glory

Oh, fcuk. Next you're going to ask us about parkways and driveways, aren't you?

it is very uncivil in the sense of polite, but it is very civil in the sense of involving the population.

Many words have more than one meaning. Just the way it is. Purposefully choosing the unintended meaning creates an oxymoron, and we have all heard that one before. Har har.

Definition of civil

1 a : of or relating to citizens - civil duties

b : of or relating to the state or its citizenry - civil strife

Indeed at first analysis the word "civil" seems strange, since the modern use of "civil" notes a person or attitudes which arc well-behaved and socially acceptable.

But you will note the use of "civil war", translated into several European languages using an adjective which is very similar to the English version of "civil". In Latin the word "cives" means "citizen", and indeed a civil war is between citizens of the same country, as noted in German by the word "Buerger". (Sorry, I cannot do the umlaut). Any good citizen is a civil person - the language has moved on to that extent.

In language in general the meanings of words tend to move on, and sometimes end up almost opposite to their original meaning, especially if they move into another language.

Because it's civilians fighting civilians. Brother vs. brother

In this case "civil" refers to ordinary citizens and their concerns, as distinct from military or ecclesiastical matters, not "civil" as in courteous and polite, if that's what you mean.