marshal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a law officer having duties similar to those of a sheriff in carrying out the judgments of a court of law
    marshall.
  2. noun (in some countries) a military officer of highest rank
    marshall.
  3. verb place in proper rank
    • marshal the troops
  4. verb arrange in logical order
    • marshal facts or arguments
  5. verb make ready for action or use
    mobilize; mobilise; summon.
    • marshal resources
  6. verb lead ceremoniously, as in a procession

WordNet

Mar"shal noun
Etymology
OE. mareschal, OF. mareschal, F. maréchal, LL. mariscalcus, from OHG. marah-scalc (G. marschall); marah horse + scalc servant (akin to AS. scealc, Goth. skalks). F. maréchal signifies, a marshal, and a farrier. See Mare horse, and cf. Seneschal.
Definitions
  1. Originally, an officer who had the care of horses; a groom. Obs.
  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.
Mar"shal transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Marshaled or Marshalled; present participle & verbal noun Marshaling or Marshalling
Definitions
  1. To dispose in order; to arrange in a suitable manner; as, to marshal troops or an army.
    And marshaling the heroes of his name As, in their order, next to light they came. Dryden.
  2. To direct, guide, or lead.
    Thou marshalest me the way that I was going. Shak.
  3. (Her.) To dispose in due order, as the different quarterings on an escutcheon, or the different crests when several belong to an achievement.

Webster 1913