marque

¹ American  

[mahrk] / mɑrk /

noun

1. letter of marque.

2. Obsolete. seizure by way of reprisal or retaliation.

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marque ² American  

[mahrk] / mɑrk /

noun

1. a product model or type, as of a luxury or racing car.

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marque British  

/ mɑːk /

noun

1. a brand of product, esp of a car

2. an emblem or nameplate used to identify a product, esp a car

3. See letter of marque

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Etymology

Origin of marque¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Provençal marca seizure by warrant (originally token) < Germanic; see mark ¹

Origin of marque²

1905–10; < French: literally, mark, sign, noun derivative of marquer to mark, probably dial. derivative of Old French merc, merche boundary, boundary marker < Old Norse merki (from same Germanic base as march ², mark ¹, marque ¹

Example Sentences

Recent articles in the Naval Institute’s Proceedings argue that letters of marque would be essential in alleviating the vast numerical asymmetry between the U.S. and Chinese fleets in the event of a war.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Jaguar – a part of Jaguar Land Rover – is to be relaunched as an all-electric marque and moved sharply upmarket as part of a major restructuring at the company.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2025

China’s SAIC, which owns the British marque MG, started selling SUVs in India in 2019 after taking over GM’s plant in the western state of Gujarat.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2023

Mr. Biden will then travel to Saudi Arabia for a marque meeting in Jeddah with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other regional Arab leaders Friday evening.

From Washington Times • Jul. 14, 2022

“She’s a letter of marque ship,” Hab said.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham