marshal

mar|shal¹ [ˈma:ʃəl US ˈma:r-] n

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: mareschal]

1.) an officer of the highest rank in the army or air force of some countries

▪ Marshal Zhukov

▪ the Marshal of the Royal Airforce

2.) an official in charge of an important public event or ceremony

▪ Heston has been named grand marshal of the parade.

3.) a person who controls crowds, traffic etc at a sports event or other public event

▪ I could see a marshal on the finish line waving a yellow flag.

4.) federal/US marshal

AmE a police officer employed by the national government to make sure people do what a ↑court order says they must do

5.) AmE the officer in charge of a fire department

marshal ²

marshal² past tense and past participle marshalled present participle marshalling BrE past tense and past participle marshaled present participle marshaling AmE

v [T]

1.) to organize your thoughts, ideas etc so that they are clear, effective, or easy to understand

marshal your thoughts/arguments etc

▪ Briggs paused for a moment as if to marshal his thoughts.

2.) to organize all the people or things that you need in order to be ready for a battle, election etc

▪ The general marshalled his forces for a major offensive.

▪ Senator Bryant attempted to marshal support for the measure.

3.) to control or organize a large group

▪ Gently, Ginny marshalled her guests in a better position.