margrave Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the military governor of a frontier province in medieval Germany
  2. noun a German nobleman ranking above a count (corresponding in rank to a British marquess)

WordNet

Mar"grave noun
Etymology
G. markgraf, prop., lord chief justice of the march; mark bound, border, march + graf earl, count, lord chief justice; cf. Goth. gagrëfts decree: cf. D. markgraaf, F. margrave. See March border, and cf. Landgrave, Graff.
Definitions
  1. Originally, a lord or keeper of the borders or marches in Germany.
  2. The English equivalent of the German title of nobility, markgraf; a marquis.

Webster 1913