\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}.]
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.
{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.

\Mar"shal\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Marshaled}or
{Marshalled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Marshaling} or {Marshalling}.]
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.