Măr'grāve, n.

n. [Fr. & Sp. margrave, It. margravio, from Ger. markgraf, i. e., lord chief justice of the march, from mark, bound, border, march, and graf, earl, count, lord chief justice; M. H. Ger. marcgräve, O. H. Ger. marcgräve, D. markgraf, Dan. mark-greve. See MARK and MARCH.]

1. Originally, a lord or keeper of the borders or marches, in Germany.
2. A nobleman of a rank equivalent to that of an English marquis.