Definition of 'marshal'

Word Frequency

marshal

(mɑːʳʃəl )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense marshals , present participle marshalling , past tense, past participle marshalled regional note: in AM, use marshaling, marshaled

1. verb

If you marshal people or things, you gather them together and arrange them for a particular purpose.

Richard was marshalling the doctors and nurses, showing them where to go. [VERB noun]

...the way in which Britain marshalled its economic and political resources to protect its security interests. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: conduct, take, lead, guide More Synonyms of marshal

2. countable noun

A marshal is an official who helps to supervise a public event, especially a sports event.

The Grand Prix is controlled by well-trained marshals.

3. countable noun

In the United States and some other countries, a marshal is a police officer, often one who is responsible for a particular area.

A federal marshal was killed in a shoot-out.

4. countable noun

A marshal is an officer in a fire department.

[US]

...a Cleveland county fire marshal.

5. countable noun & title noun

In Britain and some other countries, a marshal is the most senior officer in an army or air force.

...Air Chief Marshal Sir Kenneth Cross.

More Synonyms of marshal

Video: pronunciation of
marshal

marshal in British English

(ˈmɑːʃəl )

noun

(in some armies and air forces) an officer of the highest rank

(in England) an officer, usually a junior barrister, who accompanies a judge on circuit and performs miscellaneous secretarial duties

3. (in the US)

a Federal court officer assigned to a judicial district whose functions are similar to those of a sheriff

(in some states) the chief police or fire officer

an officer who organizes or conducts ceremonies, parades, etc

5. Also called: knight marshal

(formerly in England) an officer of the royal family or court, esp one in charge of protocol

6. an obsolete word for ostler

verbWord forms: -shals, -shalling, -shalledWord forms: US -shals, -shaling or -shaled (transitive)

to arrange in order

to marshal the facts

to assemble and organize ( troops, vehicles, etc) prior to onward movement

to arrange ( assets, mortgages, etc) in order of priority

10.

to guide or lead, esp in a ceremonious way

11.

to combine (two or more coats of arms) on one shield

Derived forms

marshalcy (ˈmarshalcy) or marshalship (ˈmarshalˌship)

noun

marshaller (ˈmarshaller) or US marshaler (ˈmarshaler)

noun

Word origin

C13: from Old French mareschal; related to Old High German marahscalc groom, from marah horse + scalc servant

Word Frequency

marshal in American English

(ˈmɑrʃəl )

noun

a groom or, later, a master of the horse in a medieval royal household

a high official of a royal household or court, as in medieval times, in charge of military affairs, ceremonies, etc.

a military commander

; specif.,

field marshal

in various foreign armies, a general officer of the highest rank

an officer of the highest rank in the British Royal Air Force

an official in charge of ceremonies, processions, rank and order, etc. who arranges the order of march

5. US

an officer of various kinds in the U.S.

; specif.,

a federal officer appointed to a judicial district to carry out orders and perform functions like those of a sheriff

a minor officer of the law in some cities

the head, or a high-ranking officer, of a police or fire department in some cities

verb transitiveWord forms: ˈmarshaled or ˈmarshalled, ˈmarshaling or ˈmarshalling

to arrange (troops, things, ideas, etc.) in order; array; dispose

to marshal forces for battle

to direct as a marshal; manage

to lead or guide ceremoniously

Derived forms

marshalcy (ˈmarshalcy)

noun or ˈmarshalˌship

Word origin

ME marescal < OFr mareschal < Frank *marhskalk or OHG marahscalh, lit., horse servant (> ML marescalcus) < marah, horse (akin to OE mearh, horse: see mare1) + scalh, servant < IE base *sel-, to spring

Word Frequency

marshal in American English

(ˈmɑːrʃəl) (verb -shaled, -shaling or esp Brit -shalled, -shalling)

noun

a military officer of the highest rank, as in the French and some other armies

Compare field marshal

an administrative officer of a U.S. judicial district who performs duties similar to those of a sheriff

a court officer serving processes, attending court, giving personal service to the judges, etc

the chief of a police or fire department in some cities

a police officer in some communities

6. See sky marshal

a higher officer of a royal household or court

an official charged with the arrangement or regulation of ceremonies, parades, etc

the marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade

transitive verb

to arrange in proper order; set out in an orderly manner; arrange clearly

to marshal facts

to marshal one's arguments

10.

to array, as for battle

11.

to usher or lead ceremoniously

Their host marshaled them into the room

12. Heraldry

to combine (two or more coats of arms) on a single escutcheon

Derived forms

marshalcy or marshalship

noun

marshaler or esp Brit marshaller

noun

Word origin

[1225–75; ME marshal, syncopated var. of mareschal ‹ OF ‹ Gmc; cf. OHG marahscalh groom, equiv. to marah horse ( see mare1) + scalh servant, c. OE scealc]

Examples of 'marshal' in a sentence
marshal

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We were expertly marshalled away from the fighting with a minimum of inconvenience.Others suggest that the name was conferred upon it by police weary of marshalling the crowds and traffic.The " air marshals "didn't mind.It was marshalled by 50,000 police drafted into the city.He played for the first 47 minutes and marshalled his team expertly.He specialised in criminal and family law and was appointed a judge 's marshal.You'd have to surrender your phones at the door or be punched unconscious by an air marshal.A fire marshal appeared at our door.Was well marshalled in midfield and struggled to make the impact he would have wanted, despite the excuse of recent illness.A Federal marshal pursued the ship by tug.