marquis

Meaning

1. A nobleman in England, France, and Germany, of a rank next below that of duke, but above a count. Originally, the marquis was an officer whose duty was to guard the marches or frontiers of the kingdom. The office has ceased, and the name is now a mere title conferred by letters patent or letters close.
2. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Bassarona (or Euthalia).

Synonyms

marquess

lord

marquise

awning

sunblind

daimyo

Translations

marchese

marquis

marqués

Marquis

marquès

marquês

markies

Marchesi

μαρκήσιος

Markgraf

marquesa

المركيزة

marki

مركيز

Fürst

🤴

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmɑː.kwɪs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: markis

In summary

From Middle English markis, from Old French markis, marchis, from Late Latin marchensis, from Old High German marcha and Frankish *marku, from Proto-Germanic *markō, from Proto-Indo-European *mórǵs (“edge, boundary”).
Meaning is “lord of the march”, in sense of march (“border country”).