marquess

mar·quess

noun \ˈmär-kwəs\

plural mar·quess·es or mar·quis·es\-kwə-səz\ or mar·quis\-ˈkē(z)\

Definition of MARQUESS

1

: a nobleman of hereditary rank in Europe and Japan

2

: a member of the British peerage ranking below a duke and above an earl

— mar·quess·ate \ˈmär-kwə-sət\ or mar·quis·ate \ˈmär-kwə-zət, -sət\ noun

Variants of MARQUESS

mar·quess or mar·quis \ˈmär-kwəs, mär-ˈkē\

Origin of MARQUESS

Middle English marquis, markis, from Anglo-French marquys, markys, from marche march

First Known Use: 14th century