n. [ OE. mersch, AS. mersc, fr. mere lake. See Mere pool, and cf. Marish, Morass. ] A tract of soft wet land, commonly covered partially or wholly with water; a fen; a swamp; a morass. [ Written also marish. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Marsh asphodel (Bot.), a plant (Nartheeium ossifragum) with linear equitant leaves, and a raceme of small white flowers; -- called also bog asphodel. --
Marsh cinquefoil (Bot.), a plant (Potentilla palustris) having purple flowers, and found growing in marshy places; marsh five-finger. --
Marsh elder. (Bot.) (a) The guelder-rose or cranberry tree (Viburnum Opulus). (b) In the United States, a composite shrub growing in salt marshes (Iva frutescens). --
Marsh five-finger. (Bot.) See Marsh cinquefoil (above). --
Marsh gas. (Chem.) See under Gas. --
Marsh grass (Bot.), a genus (Spartina) of coarse grasses growing in marshes; -- called also cord grass. The tall Spartina cynosuroides is not good for hay unless cut very young. The low Spartina juncea is a common component of salt hay. --
Marsh harrier (Zool.), a European hawk or harrier (Circus aeruginosus); -- called also marsh hawk, moor hawk, moor buzzard, puttock. --
Marsh hawk. (Zool.) (a) A hawk or harrier (Circus cyaneus), native of both America and Europe. The adults are bluish slate above, with a white rump. Called also hen harrier, and mouse hawk. (b) The marsh harrier. --
Marsh hen (Zool.), a rail; esp., Rallus elegans of fresh-water marshes, and Rallus longirostris of salt-water marshes. --
Marsh mallow (Bot.), a plant of the genus Althaea ( Althaea officinalis) common in marshes near the seashore, and whose root is much used in medicine as a demulcent. --
Marsh marigold. (Bot.) See in the Vocabulary. --
Marsh pennywort (Bot.), any plant of the umbelliferous genus Hydrocotyle; low herbs with roundish leaves, growing in wet places; -- called also water pennywort. --
Marsh quail (Zool.), the meadow lark. --
Marsh rosemary (Bot.), a plant of the genus Statice (Statice Limonium), common in salt marshes. Its root is powerfully astringent, and is sometimes used in medicine. Called also sea lavender. --
Marsh samphire (Bot.), a plant (Salicornia herbacea) found along seacoasts. See Glasswort. --
Marsh St. John's-wort (Bot.), an American herb (Elodes Virginica) with small opposite leaves and flesh-colored flowers. --
Marsh tea. (Bot.). Same as Labrador tea. --
Marsh trefoil. (Bot.) Same as Buckbean. --
Marsh wren (Zool.), any species of small American wrens of the genus Cistothorus, and allied genera. They chiefly inhabit salt marshes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Marshaled r 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 ]

n. [ OE. mareschal, OF. mareschal, F. maréchal, LL. mariscalcus, from OHG. marah-scalc (G. marschall); marah horse + scalc servant (akin to AS. scealc, Goth. skalks). F. maréchal 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 ]

n. [ Written also marshaller. ] One who marshals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also marshalling. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of arranging in due order. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Her.) The arrangement of an escutcheon to exhibit the alliances of the owner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Marshaling of assets (Law), the arranging or ranking of assets in due order of administration. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Marshal + OE. se a seat. See See a seat. ] The court or seat of a marshal; hence, the prison in Southwark, belonging to the marshal of the king's household. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Court of Marshalsea, a court formerly held before the steward and marshal of the king's house to administer justice between the king's domestic servants. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office of a marshal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or condition of being marshy. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus Caltha (Caltha palustris), growing in wet places and bearing bright yellow flowers. In the United States it is used as a pot herb under the name of cowslip. See Cowslip. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ E. Marsh. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Resembling a marsh; wet; boggy; fenny. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to, or produced in, marshes; as, a marshy weed. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]