Marquis

Alternative forms

• marquess

Origin

French: marquis; Old French: markis, marchis; Late Latin: marchensis; Old High German: marcha. Frankish *marka, from Proto-Germanic *markō, from Proto-Indo-European *mereg- ("edge, boundary").

Meaning is “lord of the march”, in sense of march ("border country").

Full definition of marquis

Noun

1. 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 patent.

Derived terms

• marchioness
• marquee
• marquisate