march English · revision 3600

+ English has a verb ''march'', “to walk in step”, and a noun ''march'', “borderland”,^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988) besides the name of the month, [[March]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /mɑːtʃ/, US /mɑːrtʃ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|walk in step}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1410|origins=frk *markōn}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ To walk in step is [[inh|enm|marchen]], [[bor|frm|marcher|t=to march, walk]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|fro|marchier|t=to trample, tread underfoot]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline) Barnhart, the AHD and Merriam-Webster derive it from a Germanic source, Frankish [[m|frk|*markōn|t=to mark out]], related to [[mark]];^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) Hoad and the SOED prefer a Gallo-Romance verb [[m|la-vul|*marcāre|t=to hammer]], from Late Latin [[m|la|marcus|t=hammer]], with the idea of tramping the feet.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) Italian [[m|it|marciare]] and Spanish [[m|es|marchar]] are said to come from the French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To walk with measured steps, singly or as a body: about 1410^(Barnhart 1988) or the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) The earliest sense of the noun was “footprint, track”, from Old French, in the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The transitive sense “to cause to march, move in military order” is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and “to make someone go somewhere at one's command” by 1884.^(Etymonline) The noun meant a rhythmic drumbeat for marching about 1572,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) and the act of marching from 1590;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) a piece of music in march time is from about 1600^(Etymonline) or 1588.^(HTOED) “An advance from one halting place to another”, and the distance so covered, is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) Forward motion in general (''the march of progress'') is from the 1620s,^(Etymonline) and ''the march of intellect'' was a common phrase from 1775.^(OED 1989) To march in a protest is from the mid-20th century.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1410 – to walk in step.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – noun, a track or footprint.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1572 – noun, a drumbeat for marching.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590 – noun, the act of marching.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – verb, to make troops march.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – a piece of music for marching.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1620s – forward progress.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-20th century – to take part in a protest march.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To walk steadily and rhythmically forward in step with others.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To walk purposefully; to advance steadily.^(AHD)

+ # To take part in an organized walk, as for a [[protest]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To make someone march or go somewhere.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of marching, especially the advance of a body of troops.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Steady forward movement: ''the march of time''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The distance covered by marching.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A piece of music in a regular rhythm suited to marching.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # An organized walk for a public cause.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[marcher]]

+ * [[countermarch]]

+ * [[outmarch]]

+ * [[route march]]

+ * [[steal a march on]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|borderland}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=probably before 1300 (Arthour and Merlin)|origins=gem-pro *markō}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The borderland is [[inh|enm|marche]], [[bor|fro|marche|t=boundary, frontier]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[frk|*marka]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*markō]], the source of English [[mark]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) It replaced and merged with the native Old English [[m|ang|mearc|t=boundary, mark]].^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[marquis]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The border district of a country: probably before 1300, in ''Arthour and Merlin'',^(Barnhart 1988) and as a surname in 1207;^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline dates it to the early 13th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early use the word often referred to the borderlands next to Wales, and later especially to the English border with Scotland,^(Etymonline) and ''the Marches'' was its earliest use in Britain.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that as the old Germanic word for “border” came to mean “borderland”, other words such as ''border'' and ''bound'' took over the original sense.^(Etymonline) The boundary of an estate, chiefly in Scotland, is recorded from 1540.^(OED 1989) The verb “to have a common boundary with” is from about 1330^(OED 1989) or probably before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988) The English Dialect Dictionary records ''march'' for a boundary line or landmark in Scotland, Ireland, Northumberland and Lincolnshire.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1207 – as a surname.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1300 – a border district (''Arthour and Merlin'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1330 – verb, to border on.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1540 – the boundary of an estate (chiefly Scots).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(chiefly historical)'' A border or [[frontier]] of a country, or a tract of land along it, often disputed.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(the Marches)'' The parts of England along the border with Wales, and formerly Scotland.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To have a common boundary; to border.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[marcher]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Marche]]

+ * [[marquee]]

+ * [[marquess]]

+ * [[marchioness]]

+ * [[marquis]]

+ * [[marquisate]]

+ * [[March]]

+ * [[mark]]

+ * [[margrave]]

+ * [[démarche]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Oxford's ''Word Origins'' traces ''march to a different drummer'' to Thoreau's remark that a man who does not keep pace with his companions perhaps hears a different drummer.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}