marshal English · revision 15341

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1258|origins=gem-pro *marhaz, gem-pro *skalkaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɑː(ɹ)ʃəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|mareschal]], [[bor|fro|mareschal|t=stable officer, groom; commander]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-med|mariscalcus]],^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[frk|*marhskalk|t=horse servant]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) compare [[goh|marahscalc|t=groom]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a compound of [[gem-pro|*marhaz|t=horse]] (see [[mare]]) and [[m|gem-pro|*skalkaz|t=servant]], which also gave [[ang|scealc|t=servant]] and [[got|𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌻𐌺𐍃|tr=skalks]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A high officer of a royal court, in charge of ceremonies and order: 1258 in Barnhart and the OED, the mid-13th century in Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) as a surname from 1218.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Like [[constable]], an officer of the stable rose to be a chief officer of the royal household.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) A military commander or general is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a general of the highest rank in some foreign armies, as a field marshal, from 1560.^(OED 1989) A farrier or shoeing smith is also from about 1330.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) In the United States a marshal is a federal officer of a judicial district who carries out court orders,^(Etymonline)^(AHD) and the AHD notes that the marshals of the Wild West keep the word's link with horses.^(AHD) The verb, first to tend horses and to arrange in order at a feast, is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) to arrange troops for fighting soon after,^(Etymonline) and figurative use by the 1690s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1218 – Marshal, a surname.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1258 – a high officer of state.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1330 – a farrier.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1450 – to marshal, arrange in order.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560 – a marshal in foreign armies.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An officer of the highest military rank in some countries; a [[field marshal]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' A federal or city law officer with duties like those of a [[sheriff]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An official who organizes ceremonies, processions or public events.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To arrange troops or things in order.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To gather and organize: ''marshal one's thoughts''.^(AHD)

+ # To guide or usher ceremoniously.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[marshalcy]]

+ * [[marshalship]]

+ * [[submarshal]]

+ * [[remarshal]]

+ * [[air chief marshal]]

+ * [[air marshal]]

+ * [[air vice-marshal]]

+ * [[earl marshal]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mare]]

+ * [[constable]]

+ * [[seneschal]]

+ * [[martial]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}