Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Marshal
Mar′shal
,Noun.
1.
Originally, an officer who had the care of horses; a groom.
[Obs.]
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.
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.
Mar′shal
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Marshaled
or Marshalled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Marshaling
or Marshalling
.] 1.
To dispose in order; to arrange in a suitable manner;
as, to
. marshal
troops or an armyAnd
As, in their order, next to light they came.
marshaling
the heroes of his nameAs, in their order, next to light they came.
Dryden.
2.
To direct, guide, or lead.
Thou
marshalest
me the way that I was going. Shakespeare
3.
(Her.)
To dispose in due order, as the different quarterings on an escutcheon, or the different crests when several belong to an achievement.
Webster 1828 Edition
Marshal
M`ARSHAL
,Noun.
1.
The chief officer of arms, whose duty it is to regulate combats in the lists.2.
One who regulates rank and order at a feast or any other assembly, directs the order of procession and the like.3.
A harbinger; a pursuivant; one who goes before a prince to declare his coming and provide entertainment.4.
In France, the highest military officer. In other countries of Europe, a marshal is a military officer of high rank, and called field-marshal.5.
In America, a civil officer, appointed by the President and Senate of the United States, in each judicial district, answering to the sheriff of a county. His duty is to execute all precepts directed to him, issued under the authority of the United States.6.
An officer of any private society, appointed to regulate their ceremonies and execute their orders.Earl marshal of England, the eighth officer of state; an honorary title, and personal, until made hereditary by Charles II, in the family of Howard. During a vacancy in the office of high constable, the earl marshal has jurisdiction in the court of chivalry.
Earl marshal of Scotland. This officer formerly 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 an officer who was to execute the commands of the lord steward, and have the custody of prisoners committed by the court of verge; hence, the name of a prison in Southwark.
Marshal of the king's bench, an officer who has the custody of the prison called the king's bench, in Southwark. He attends on the court and has the charge of the prisoners committed by them.