marshal
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1mar·shal
noun \ˈmär-shəl\Definition of MARSHAL
1
a : a high official in the household of a medieval king, prince, or noble originally having charge of the cavalry but later usually in command of the military forces b : a person who arranges and directs the ceremonial aspects of a gathering
2
a : field marshal b : a general officer of the highest military rank
3
a : an officer having charge of prisoners b (1) : a ministerial officer appointed for a judicial district (as of the United States) to execute the process of the courts and perform various duties similar to those of a sheriff (2) : a city law officer entrusted with particular duties c : the administrative head of a city police department or fire department
— mar·shal·cy \-sē\ noun
— mar·shal·ship \-ˌship\ noun
See Variants of MARSHAL
mar·shal also mar·shall \ˈmär-shəl\
Origin of MARSHAL
Middle English, from Anglo-French mareschal, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German marahscalc marshal, from marah horse + scalc servant
First Known Use: 13th century
2marshal
verbmarshaled or marshalledmarshal·ing or marshal·ling \ˈmärsh-(ə-)liŋ\
Definition of MARSHAL
transitive verb
1
: to place in proper rank or position <marshaling the troops>
2
: to bring together and order in an appropriate or effective way <marshal arguments>
3
: to lead ceremoniously or solicitously : usher <marshaling her little group of children down the street>
intransitive verb
: to take form or order <ideas marshaling neatly>
Variants of MARSHAL
marshal also marshall
Examples of MARSHAL
- She carefully marshaled her thoughts before answering the question.
- <marshaled their forces for battle>
First Known Use of MARSHAL
15th century
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