marshal

What it means

1. historicalA high-ranking officer in the household of a medieval prince or lord, who was originally in charge of the cavalry and later the military forces in general.
2. A military officer of the highest rank in several countries, including France and the former Soviet Union; equivalent to a general of the army in the United States. See also field marshal.

   Where stands Marshal Chiang Kai-shek in this conflict of opinion concerning the tactics which China should adopt towards the aggressor? Chiang Kai-shek, according to officials who know his mind with whom I have talked, is all for resistance- as soon as he thinks he can win!

   1936, H. Hessell Tiltman, The Far East Comes Nearer, Jarrolds, page 249

3. A person in charge of the ceremonial arrangement and management of a gathering.

In a sentence

Where stands Marshal Chiang Kai-shek in this conflict of opinion concerning the tactics which China should adopt towards the aggressor? Chiang Kai-shek, according to officials who know his mind with whom I have talked, is all for resistance- as soon as he thinks he can win!

1936, H. Hessell Tiltman, The Far East Comes Nearer, Jarrolds, page 249

Where it comes from

1. Proto-West Germanic*marh
2. Old High Germanmarah-scalc“horse-servant”
3. Frankish*marhaskalk
4. Medieval Latinmariscalcus“groom, army commander, court dignitary”
5. Anglo-Normanmareschal“farrier; military commander”
6. Middle Englishmarschal
7. Englishmarshal

From Middle English marschal, from Anglo-Norman mareschal (“farrier; military commander”), from Medieval Latin mariscalcus (“groom, army commander, court dignitary”), either from Frankish *marhaskalk, or Old High German marah-scalc (“horse-servant”), from Proto-West Germanic *marh + *skalk (whence Old Saxon maraskalk, marahscalc). Compare English mare + shalk.