Marshal

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈmɑːʃəl/
• GenAm IPA: /ˈmɑɹʃəl/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)ʃəl
• Homophones: martial

Alternative forms

• marshall US
• mareschal obsolete

Origin

Anglo-Norman marescal, marschal, Old French marescal, mareschal ("farrier; military commander"), from Late Latin mariscalcus ("groom, army commander, court dignitary"), either from Frankish *marhskalk

Online Etymology Dictionary|marshal

, or from Old High German marah-scalc ("horse-servant")

Webster 1913|marshal

, from Proto-Germanic *marhaz + *skalkaz (whence Old Saxon maraskalk, marahscalc). Compare English mare + shalk.

Full definition of marshal

Noun

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. A person in charge of the ceremonial arrangement and management of a gathering.
4. (US) A federal lawman.

Verb

1. To arrange troops etc. in line for inspection or a parade.
• 1913, w, Lord Stranleigh Abroad Chapter 4, Nothing could be more business-like than the construction of the stout dams, and nothing more gently rural than the limpid lakes, with the grand old forest trees marshalled round their margins like a veteran army that had marched down to drink, only to be stricken motionless at the water’s edge.
2. (by extension) To arrange facts etc. in some methodical order.
3. To ceremoniously guide, conduct or usher.
4. To gather data for transmission.