marquis definition by Wordo

Noun

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

.