Marshal - Etymology

Etymology

The word is an ancient loan word from Old (Norman) French, cf. modern French maréchal, which in turn is a borrowing from Old Frankish *marhskalk "stable boy, keeper, servant", still continued by Middle Dutch maerscalc, marscal "id.", modern Dutch maarschalk "military commander" (the meaning is under French influence). It is cognate with Old High German mar(ah)-scalc "id.", modern German Marschall "military commander" (the meaning is under French influence). and originally meant "stable keeper", from Germanic *marha- "horse" (cf. Engl. mare) and skalk- "servant" (cf. Old Engl. scealc "servant, soldier"). This "stable servant" origin is kept with the current French name for farrier: maréchal-ferrant.

Also, a Latinized calque was invented in the Middle Ages: comes stabuli ("a noble man in charge of the Stable"), which has become Engl. Constable (cf. French (obsolete) connétable).

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