mariscalcus

Forms

mariscalcus m (genitive mariscalcī); second declension^[1] It is spelled in many ways, among them marescalcus, marscalcus, mariscallus and marescallus.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Frankish *marhaskalk (“groom”), a compound of *marh (“horse”) and *skalk (“attendant”).^[1] Köbler compares Old High German marhskalk (“groom”) and takes the parts to Proto-Germanic *marhaz (“horse”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *markos (“horse”), and Proto-Germanic *skalkaz (“servant”);^[2] the DMLBS compares Old English mearh and Old English scealc.^[3]

The English marshal comes through Old French mareschal from the same Germanic word, literally “horse-servant”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler finds it first in the laws of the Alamanni (712–725?), as a groom or stable-man.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The stable servant who looked after horses became a court dignitary in charge of requisitions and lodging, and then a military commander, the marshal.^[5][2][1] Etymonline compares how other officers of the stable, such as the constable, rose to be chief officers of royal households.^[4] In British sources the word kept its first sense as a farrier or keeper of horses, including the king's horses, and was extended to keepers of other animals such as falcons.^[3]

Timeline

• 712–725? – The laws of the Alamanni use it.^[2]
• 3rd quarter of the 8th century – It appears in the Salic law.^[2]
• 1219 – An English record names a marshal of the king's falcons.^[3]
• 1235 – An English marshal accounts at the exchequer for horseshoes.^[3]
• mid-13th century – English marshal appears, from Old French.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A groom, stable-man.^[5][1][2]
2. A farrier, a servant who cares for horses.^[3][2]
3. A marshal, a court dignitary in charge of requisitions and lodging.^[5][1]
4. A marshal of the army, a commander.^[3][1][2]
5. A keeper of other animals, such as hawks.^[3]

Related words

• siniscalcus
• English marshal

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill