field marshal

field marshal
Marshal Mar"shal, n. [OE. mareschal, OF. mareschal, F. mar['e]chal, LL. mariscalcus, from OHG. marah-scalc (G. marschall); marah horse + scalc servant (akin to AS. scealc, Goth. skalks). F. mar['e]chal signifies, a marshal, and a farrier. See {Mare} horse, and cf. {Seneschal}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Originally, an officer who had the care of horses; a groom. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Field marshal — Field Field (f[=e]ld), n. [OE. feld, fild, AS. feld; akin to D. veld, G. feld, Sw. f[ a]lt, Dan. felt, Icel. fold field of grass, AS. folde earth, land, ground, OS. folda.] 1. Cleared land; land suitable for tillage or pasture; cultivated ground; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • field marshal — field marshals also field marshal N COUNT; N TITLE A field marshal is an officer in the army who has the highest rank …   English dictionary

  • Field Marshal — est un grade militaire britannique équivalent à maréchal. Il n est attribué qu en temps de guerre. Bernard Montgomery et Alan Brooke furent Field Marshal. Liens externes (en) Nomination dans la London Gazette au grade de maréchal du général… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • field marshal — field .marshal n an officer of the highest rank in the British army …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • field marshal — noun count an officer of the highest rank in the British army …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • field marshal — ► NOUN ▪ the highest rank of officer in the British army …   English terms dictionary

  • field marshal — n. in some armies, an officer of the highest rank …   English World dictionary

  • Field marshal — For other uses, see Field marshal (disambiguation). Common anglophone military ranks Navies Armies Air forces Officers Admiral of the fleet Marshal / …   Wikipedia

  • Field Marshal — For other meanings see Field Marshal (disambiguation)Field marshal is a military officer rank. Today it is the highest rank in the armies in which it is used, one step above a general or colonel general. Historically, however, several armies used …   Wikipedia

  • field marshal — noun an officer holding the highest rank in the army • Topics: ↑military, ↑armed forces, ↑armed services, ↑military machine, ↑war machine • Hypernyms: ↑marshal, ↑marshall …   Useful english dictionary

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