n. [ F. marque, in lettre de marque letter of marque, a commission with which the commandant of every armed vessel was obliged to be provided, under penalty of being considered a pirate or corsair; marque here prob. meaning, border, boundary (the letter of marque being a permission to go beyond the border), and of German origin. See March border. ] (Law) A license to pass the limits of a jurisdiction, or boundary of a country, for the purpose of making reprisals. [ 1913 Webster ]
Letters of marque,
Letters of marque and reprisal
n. [ F. marquise, misunderstood as a plural; prob. orig., tent of the marchioness. See Marquis. ] A large field tent; esp., one adapted to the use of an officer of high rank.
n. [ Cf. Sp. marques. See Marquis. ] A marquis. [ 1913 Webster ]
Lady marquess,