marshal
- a military officer of the highest rank, as in the French and some other armies.Compare field marshal.
- an administrative officer of a U.S. judicial district who performs duties similar to those of a sheriff.
- a court officer serving processes, attending court, giving personal service to the judges, etc.
- the chief of a police or fire department in some cities.
- a police officer in some communities.
- sky marshal.
- a higher officer of a royal household or court.
- an official charged with the arrangement or regulation of ceremonies, parades, etc.: the marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade.
- to arrange in proper order; set out in an orderly manner; arrange clearly: to marshal facts; to marshal one's arguments.
- to array, as for battle.
- to usher or lead ceremoniously: Their host marshaled them into the room.
- Heraldry. to combine (two or more coats of arms) on a single escutcheon.
Origin of marshal
Synonyms
See more synonyms for marshal on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
Antonyms
Examples from the Web for marshal
Contemporary Examples
It has a presence, it remains potentially destructive, but all we can do is attempt to marshal it.
The earl was killed in battle and Marshal captured, but he would later be ransomed by the queen herself.
With Marshal at his side, Richard crushed Philip and his armies.
Marshal appears in many of the sources regarding these rulers, and therefore, it seems, much can be verified.
Before dying in 1219, Marshal would begin the task of rebuilding England after decades of war.
Historical Examples
The necessary papers were made out and given to the Marshal.
Harriet, The Moses of Her PeopleSarah H. Bradford
He whispered to the marshal that he would return, and slipped through the window.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
It was the marshal calling to them that Andrew was gone and inviting them in to finish him.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
"He hadn't long to live, anyway," answered the marshal in some confusion.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
"It looks like a woman's hand had been at work," concluded the marshal.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
marshal
- (in some armies and air forces) an officer of the highest rank
- (in England) an officer, usually a junior barrister, who accompanies a judge on circuit and performs miscellaneous secretarial duties
- (in the US)
- a Federal court officer assigned to a judicial district whose functions are similar to those of a sheriff
- (in some states) the chief police or fire officer
- an officer who organizes or conducts ceremonies, parades, etc
- Also called: knight marshal (formerly in England) an officer of the royal family or court, esp one in charge of protocol
- an obsolete word for ostler
- to arrange in orderto marshal the facts
- to assemble and organize (troops, vehicles, etc) prior to onward movement
- to arrange (assets, mortgages, etc) in order of priority
- to guide or lead, esp in a ceremonious way
- to combine (two or more coats of arms) on one shield
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for marshal
n.
early 13c. as a surname; mid-13c. as "high officer of the royal court;" from Old French mareschal "commanding officer of an army; officer in charge of a household" (Modern French maréchal), originally "stable officer, horse tender, groom" (Frankish Latin mariscaluis) from Frankish *marhskalk or a similar Germanic word, literally "horse-servant" (cf. Old High German marahscalc "groom," Middle Dutch maerschalc), from Proto-Germanic *markhaz "horse" (see mare (1)) + *skalkaz "servant" (cf. Old English scealc "servant, retainer, member of a crew," Dutch schalk "rogue, wag," Gothic skalks "servant").
Cognate with Old English horsþegn. From c.1300 as "stable officer;" early 14c. as "military commander, general in the army." For development history, cf. constable. Also from Germanic are Italian scalco "steward," Spanish mariscal "marshal."
v.
early 15c., "to tend (horses)," from marshal (n.). Meaning "to arrange, place in order" is from mid-15c.; that of "to arrange for fighting" is from mid-15c. Figurative use by 1690s. Related: Marshaled; marshaling.