Mar"plot` (?), n. One who, by his officious interference, mars or
frustrates a design or plot.
Marque (?), n. [F. marque, in lettre de marque letter of marque, a
commission with which the commandant of every armed vessel was obliged
to be provided, under penalty of being considered a pirate or corsair;
marque here prob. meaning, border, boundary (the letter of marque being
a permission to go beyond the border), and of German origin. See March
border.] (Law) A license to pass the limits of a jurisdiction, or
boundary of a country, for the purpose of making reprisals.
Letters of marque, Letters of marque and reprisal, a license or
extraordinary commission granted by a government to a private person to
fit out a privateer or armed ship to cruise at sea and make prize of
the enemy's ships and merchandise. The ship so commissioned is
sometimes called a letter of marque.
Mar*quee" (?), n. [F. marquise, misunderstood as a plural; prob. orig.,
tent of the marchioness. See Marquis.] A large field tent; esp., one
adapted to the use of an officer of high rank. [Written also markee.]
Mar"quess (?), n. [Cf. Sp. marques. See Marquis.] A marquis.
Lady marquess, a marchioness. [Obs.] Shak.
Mar"quet*ry (?), n. [F. marqueterie, from marqueter to checker, inlay,
fr. marque mark, sign; of German origin. See Mark a sign.] Inlaid work;
work inlaid with pieces of wood, shells, ivory, and the like, of
several colors.
Mar"quis (?), n. [F. marquis, OF. markis, marchis, LL. marchensis; of
German origin; cf. G. mark bound, border, march, OHG. marcha. See March
border, and cf. Marchioness, Marquee, Marquess.] A nobleman in England,
France, and Germany, of a rank next below that of duke. 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 patent.
Mar"quis*ate (?), n. [Cf. F. marquisat.] The seigniory, dignity, or
lordship of a marquis; the territory governed by a marquis.
Mar"quis*dom (?), n. A marquisate. [Obs.] "Nobles of the marquisdom of
Saluce." Holinshed.
||Mar`quise" (?), n. [F. See Marquis, and cf. Marquee.] The wife of a
||marquis; a marchioness.
Mar"quis*ship (?), n. A marquisate.
Mar"ram (?), n. (Bot.) A coarse grass found on sandy beaches (Ammophila
arundinacea). See Beach grass, under Beach.
Mar"rer (?), n. One who mars or injures.
Mar"ri*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. mariable.] Marriageable. [R.] Coleridge.
Mar"riage (?), n. [OE. mariage, F. mariage. See Marry, v. t.] 1. The
act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal union of a man
and a woman for life, as husband and wife; wedlock; matrimony.
Marriage is honorable in all.
Heb. xiii. 4.