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

See Examples For:

marque

VW, whose 10 brands range from mass-market Seats to premium Porsches, is already in the process of axing 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, including 35,000 at its namesake marque.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Reviving prize law could be complemented by Congress’s issuing letters of marque and reprisal.

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

Volkswagen Group’s most profitable marque has also promoted a 22-foot boat made by Seven Seas Yachts called the Hermes Speedster, which was made to evoke the Porsche 356 vintage car.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 29, 2023

“The Astrea mounts nineteen guns, Captain Prince. If any of your crew has ever shipped on a privateer or a letter of marque ship they—ah—might be useful.”

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