marshal

Meanings

Noun

  • A high-ranking officer in the household of a medieval prince or lord, who was originally in charge of the cavalry and later the military forces in general.
  • A military officer of the highest rank in several countries, including France and the former Soviet Union; equivalent to a general of the army in the United States. See also field marshal.
  • A person in charge of the ceremonial arrangement and management of a gathering.
  • A federal lawman.

Verb

Origin

  • From Middle English marchal, mareschal, marchall, from Anglo-Norman marescal, marschal and Old French marescal, mareschal, from Medieval Latin mariscalcus ("groom, army commander, court dignitary"), either from *Frankish, or Old High German marah-scalc ("horse-servant"), from Proto-Germanic *marhaz + *skalkaz (whence Old Saxon maraskalk, marahscalc). Compare English mare + shalk.

Modern English dictionary

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