n.
- an officer of the highest rank in the armed forces of some countries.
▸Brit. historical a high-ranking officer of state.
- US a federal or municipal law officer.
▸the head of a police department.
▸N. Amer. the head of a fire department.
- an official responsible for supervising public events, especially sports events or parades.
- (in the UK) an official accompanying a judge on circuit, with secretarial and social duties.
v.
(marshals, marshalling, marshalled; US marshals, marshaling, marshaled)
- assemble (a group of people, especially soldiers) in order.
- bring together or arrange in order (facts, information, etc.).
- direct the movement of (an aircraft) on the ground at an airport.
- Heraldry combine (coats of arms), to indicate marriage, descent, or the bearing of office.
Derivative
- marshaller n.
- marshalship n.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. mareschal ‘farrier, commander’, from late L. mariscalcus, from Gmc elements meaning ‘horse’ (cf. mare1) and ‘servant’.