marshal

[mahr-shuhl]

noun

1. a military officer of the highest rank, as in the French and some other armies.

2. an administrative officer of a U.S. judicial district who performs duties similar to those of a sheriff.

3. a court officer serving processes, attending court, giving personal service to the judges, etc.

4. the chief of a police or fire department in some cities.

5. a police officer in some communities.

6. sky marshal.

7. a higher officer of a royal household or court.

8. an official charged with the arrangement or regulation of ceremonies, parades, etc..

   the marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade.

verb (used with object)

marshaled, marshaling , marshalled, marshalling .

1. to arrange in proper order; set out in an orderly manner; arrange clearly.

   to marshal facts; to marshal one's arguments.

   Synonyms: convoke, dispose, order
   Antonyms: scatter

2. to array, as for battle.

3. to usher or lead ceremoniously.

   Their host marshaled them into the room.

4. Heraldry.,  to combine (two or more coats of arms) on a single escutcheon.

marshal

/ ˈmɑːʃəl /

noun

1. (in some armies and air forces) an officer of the highest rank

2. (in England) an officer, usually a junior barrister, who accompanies a judge on circuit and performs miscellaneous secretarial duties

3. 1. a Federal court officer assigned to a judicial district whose functions are similar to those of a sheriff

   2. (in some states) the chief police or fire officer

4. an officer who organizes or conducts ceremonies, parades, etc

5. Also called: knight marshal. (formerly in England) an officer of the royal family or court, esp one in charge of protocol

6. an obsolete word for ostler

verb

1. to arrange in order

   to marshal the facts

2. to assemble and organize (troops, vehicles, etc) prior to onward movement

3. to arrange (assets, mortgages, etc) in order of priority

4. to guide or lead, esp in a ceremonious way

5. to combine (two or more coats of arms) on one shield

Other Word Forms

• marshalcy noun
• marshalship noun
• marshaler noun
• remarshal verb (used with object)
• submarshal noun
• undermarshal noun
• unmarshaled adjective
• unmarshalled adjective
• marshaller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of marshal¹

1225–75; Middle English marshal, syncopated variant of mareschal < Old French < Germanic; compare Old High German marahscalh groom, equivalent to marah horse ( mare ¹ ) + scalh servant, cognate with Old English scealc

Word History and Origins

Origin of marshal¹

C13: from Old French mareschal; related to Old High German marahscalc groom, from marah horse + scalc servant

Synonym Study

See gather.

Example Sentences

Wayne would swagger into town to shoot flicks like “Blue Steel,” a 1934 western starring The Duke as a U.S. marshal who pursues a baddie named the Polka Dot Bandit.

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Rather, it is a portrait of an artist at work, marshaling tremendous resources at great personal expense in pursuit of a result that remains elusive, perhaps to himself most of all.

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Her comments set off another wave of criticism and second-guessing among Democrats that was directed toward the former president — when they could have been marshaling forces to oppose the policies of the current one.

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“The fire marshal came in and arrested Bob and took him to jail for the rest of the day.”

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The Los Angeles Fire Department declined to comment on the single stairway proposal, saying it is under review by the city fire marshal.

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Related Words

• assemble 
• mobilize