marquis

Meaning

Noun

• A nobleman in England, France, and Germany, of a rank next below that of duke, but above a count. Originally, the marquis was an officer whose duty was to guard the marches or frontiers of the kingdom. The office has ceased, and the name is now a mere title conferred by letters patent or letters close.
• Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Bassarona (genus).

Origin

• From French marquis, from Old French markis, marchis, from Late Latin marchensis, from Old High German marcha and Frankish *marku, from Proto-Germanic *markō, from Proto-Indo-European *marǵ- ("edge, boundary").
• Meaning is “lord of the march”, in sense of march.