A marquis is a male member of the nobility who has a rank between duke and earl.
marquis in British English
(ˈmɑːkwɪs, mɑːˈkiː, French marki)
nounWord forms: plural-quises or -quis
(in various countries) a nobleman ranking above a count, corresponding to a British marquess. The title of marquis is often used in place of that of marquess
Word origin
C14: from Old French marchis, literally: count of the march, from marchemarch2
Marquis in British English
(ˈmɑːkwɪs)
noun
Don(ald Robert Perry). 1878–1937, US humorist; author of archy and mehitabel (1927)
Marquis in American English
(ˈmɑrkwɪs)
Don(ald Robert Perry)1878-1937; U.S. humorist & journalist
marquis in American English
(ˈmɑrkwɪs; French maʀˈki)
nounWord forms: pluralˈmarquises or French marˈquis
in some countries of Europe, a nobleman ranking above an earl or count and belowa duke
see also marquess
Derived forms
marquisate (ˈmarquisate) (ˈmɑrkwəzɪt)
noun
Word origin
ME markis < OFr marchis (later marquis) < ML marchisus, prefect of a frontier town < marca, a borderland < Frank *marka: see mark1
Examples of 'marquis' in a sentence
marquis
Clayton glanced sideways at Mainwaring and returned contentedly to his surrey of the ceiling when the marquis began to speak.
Ross, Melville LOHENGRIN
`We alerted all the other case officers," the marquis went on, `and eight of them have now reported similar changes in pattern.
Ross, Melville LOHENGRIN
In other languages
marquis
British English: marquis NOUN
A marquis is a male member of the nobility who has a rank between duke and earl.