noun
- a groom or, later, a master of the horse in a medieval royal household
- a high official of a royal household or court, as in medieval times, in charge of military affairs, ceremonies, etc.
- a military commander; specif.,
- field marshal
- in various foreign armies, a general officer of the highest rank
- an officer of the highest rank in the British Royal Air Force
- an official in charge of ceremonies, processions, rank and order, etc. who arranges the order of march
- ☆ an officer of various kinds in the U.S.; specif.,
- a federal officer appointed to a judicial district to carry out orders and perform functions like those of a sheriff
- a minor officer of the law in some cities
- the head, or a high-ranking officer, of a police or fire department in some cities
Origin:
ME marescal < OFr mareschal < Frank *marhskalk or OHG marahscalh, lit., horse servant (> ML marescalcus) < marah, horse (akin to OE mearh, horse: see mare) + scalh, servant < IE base *sel-, to spring
transitive verb marshaled or marshalled, marshaling or marshalling
- to arrange (troops, things, ideas, etc.) in order; array; dispose: to marshal forces for battle
- to direct as a marshal; manage
- to lead or guide ceremoniously