From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Originally, an officer who had the care of horses; a
groom. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
{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.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Marshal \Mar"shal\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Marshaled}or
{Marshalled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Marshaling} or {Marshalling}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To dispose in order; to arrange in a suitable manner; as,
to marshal troops or an army.
[1913 Webster]
And marshaling the heroes of his name
As, in their order, next to light they came.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. To direct, guide, or lead.
[1913 Webster]
Thou marshalest me the way that I was going. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Her.) To dispose in due order, as the different
quarterings on an escutcheon, or the different crests when
several belong to an achievement.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [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:
{marshal}, {marshall}]
2: (in some countries) a military officer of highest rank [syn:
{marshal}, {marshall}]
v 1: place in proper rank; "marshal the troops"
2: arrange in logical order; "marshal facts or arguments"
3: make ready for action or use; "marshal resources" [syn:
{mobilize}, {mobilise}, {marshal}, {summon}]
4: lead ceremoniously, as in a procession
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