3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Marshal  \Mar"shal\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Marshaled}or 
  {Marshalled};  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Marshaling}  or  {Marshalling}.] 
  1.  To  dispose  in  order  to  arrange  in  a  suitable  manner;  as 
  to  marshal  troops  or  an  army. 
 
  And  marshaling  the  heroes  of  his  name  As  in  their 
  order  next  to  light  they  came  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  To  direct,  guide,  or  lead. 
 
  Thou  marshalest  me  the  way  that  I  was  going.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  (Her.)  To  dispose  in  due  order  as  the  different 
  quarterings  on  an  escutcheon,  or  the  different  crests  when 
  several  belong  to  an  achievement. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Marshal  \Mar"shal\,  n.  [OE.  mareschal,  OF  mareschal,  F. 
  mar['e]chal,  LL  mariscalcus  from  OHG.  marah-scalc  (G. 
  marschall);  marah  horse  +  scalc  servant  (akin  to  AS  scealc 
  Goth.  skalks).  F.  mar['e]chal  signifies,  a  marshal,  and  a 
  farrier.  See  {Mare}  horse,  and  cf  {Seneschal}.] 
  1.  Originally,  an  officer  who  had  the  care  of  horses;  a 
  groom.  [Obs.] 
 
  2.  An  officer  of  high  rank,  charged  with  the  arrangement  of 
  ceremonies,  the  conduct  of  operations,  or  the  like  as 
  specifically: 
  a  One  who  goes  before  a  prince  to  declare  his  coming  and 
  provide  entertainment;  a  harbinger;  a  pursuivant. 
  b  One  who  regulates  rank  and  order  at  a  feast  or  any 
  other  assembly,  directs  the  order  of  procession,  and 
  the  like 
  c  The  chief  officer  of  arms,  whose  duty  it  was  in 
  ancient  times,  to  regulate  combats  in  the  lists. 
  --Johnson. 
  d  (France)  The  highest  military  officer.  In  other 
  countries  of  Europe  a  marshal  is  a  military  officer  of 
  high  rank,  and  called  {field  marshal}. 
  e  (Am.  Law)  A  ministerial  officer,  appointed  for  each 
  judicial  district  of  the  United  States,  to  execute  the 
  process  of  the  courts  of  the  United  States,  and 
  perform  various  duties,  similar  to  those  of  a  sheriff. 
  The  name  is  also  sometimes  applied  to  certain  police 
  officers  of  a  city. 
 
  {Earl  marshal  of  England},  the  eighth  officer  of  state;  an 
  honorary  title,  and  personal,  until  made  hereditary  in  the 
  family  of  the  Duke  of  Norfolk.  During  a  vacancy  in  the 
  office  of  high  constable,  the  earl  marshal  has 
  jurisdiction  in  the  court  of  chivalry.  --Brande  &  C. 
 
  {Earl  marshal  of  Scotland},  an  officer  who  had  command  of  the 
  cavalry  under  the  constable.  This  office  was  held  by  the 
  family  of  Keith,  but  forfeited  by  rebellion  in  1715. 
 
  {Knight  marshal},  or  {Marshal  of  the  King's  house},  formerly, 
  in  England,  the  marshal  of  the  king's  house,  who  was 
  authorized  to  hear  and  determine  all  pleas  of  the  Crown, 
  to  punish  faults  committed  within  the  verge,  etc  His 
  court  was  called  the  Court  of  Marshalsea. 
 
  {Marshal  of  the  Queen's  Bench},  formerly  the  title  of  the 
  officer  who  had  the  custody  of  the  Queen's  bench  prison  in 
  Southwark.  --Mozley  &  W. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  marshal 
  n  1:  a  law  officer  having  duties  similar  to  those  of  a  sheriff  in 
  carrying  out  the  judgments  of  a  court  of  law  [syn:  {marshall}] 
  2:  (in  some  countries)  a  military  officer  of  highest  rank  [syn: 
  {marshall}] 
  v  1:  place  in  proper  rank;  of  military  troops 
  2:  arrange  in  logical  order  "mashal  facts  or  arguments" 
  3:  make  ready  for  action  or  use  "marshal  resources"  [syn:  {mobilize}, 
  {summon}] 
  4:  lead  ceremoniously,  as  in  a  procession 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words