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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Marshal

Mär'shal, n.

noun

n. [O. Fr. mareschal, marescal, N. Fr. maréchal, Pr. manescalc, manescal, Sp. & Pg. mariscal, It. mariscalco, maniscalco, maliscalco, maresciallo, from O. H. Ger. marah-scalc, marah-scalh, from marah, horse, and scalc, scalh, servant, M. H. Ger. marscal, N. H. Ger. marschall, L. Lat. mariscalcus. The Fr. maréchal, Sp. mariscal, signify a marshal and a farrier. See MARESCHAL and MARE.]

  1. Originally, an officer who had the care of horses; a groom. [Obs.]
  2. An officer of high rank, charged with the arrangement of ceremonies, the conduct of operations, or the like; as, specifically, (a.) One who goes before a prince to declare his coming and provide entertainment; a harbinger; a pursuivant. (b.) One who regulates rank and order at a feast or any other assembly, directs the order of procession, and the like. (c.) The chief officer of arms, whose duty it is to regulate combats in the lists. Johnson. (d.) (France.) The highest military officer. In other countries of Europe a marshal is a military officer of high rank, and called field-marshal. (e.) (Am. Law.) A ministerial officer, appointed for each judicial district of the United States, whose duty it is to execute the process of the courts of the United States. His duties are similar to those of a sheriff. The name is also sometimes applied to certain police officers of a city.

Earl marshal of England, the eighth officer of state; an honorary title, and personal, until made hereditary in the family of the Duke of Norfolk. During a vacancy in the office of high constable, the earl marshal has jurisdiction in the court of chivalry. Brande.—Earl marshal of Scotland, an officer who had command of the cavalry under the constable. This office was held by the family of Keith, but forfeited by rebellion in 1715.—Knight marshal, or marshal of the king's house, formerly, an officer who was to execute the commands of the lord steward, and have the custody of prisoners committed by the court of verge.—Marshal of the Queen's Bench prison, now abolished, and an officer is substituted who is called keeper of the Queen's prison.

Mär'shal, v. t.

verbtransitive

v.t. [imp. & p. p. MARSHALLED, or MARSHALLED; p. pr. & vb. n. MARSHALING, or MARSHALLING.]

Sense 1. To dispose in order; to arrange in a suitable manner; as, to marshal troops or an army.

And marshaling the heroes of his name As, in their order, next to light they came. Dryden.

Sense 2. To lead, as a harbinger; to prepare the way of.

Thou marshalest me the way that I was going. Shak.

Sense 3. (Her.) To dispose in due order, as the parts of an escutcheon, or the coats of arms of distinct families.