marshal
    n 1: a law officer having duties similar to those of a sheriff
         in carrying out the judgments of a court of law [syn:
         marshal, marshall]
    2: (in some countries) a military officer of highest rank [syn:
       marshal, marshall]
    v 1: place in proper rank; "marshal the troops"
    2: arrange in logical order; "marshal facts or arguments"
    3: make ready for action or use; "marshal resources" [syn:
       mobilize, mobilise, marshal, summon]
    4: lead ceremoniously, as in a procession

Marshal \Mar"shal\, n. [OE. mareschal, OF. mareschal, F.
   mar['e]chal, LL. mariscalcus, from OHG. marah-scalc (G.
   marschall); marah horse + scalc servant (akin to AS. scealc,
   Goth. skalks). F. mar['e]chal signifies, a marshal, and a
   farrier. See Mare horse, and cf. Seneschal.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Originally, an officer who had the care of horses; a
      groom. [Obs.]
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   2. An officer of high rank, charged with the arrangement of
      ceremonies, the conduct of operations, or the like; as,
      specifically:
      (a) One who goes before a prince to declare his coming and
          provide entertainment; a harbinger; a pursuivant.
      (b) One who regulates rank and order at a feast or any
          other assembly, directs the order of procession, and
          the like.
      (c) The chief officer of arms, whose duty it was, in
          ancient times, to regulate combats in the lists.
          --Johnson.
      (d) (France) The highest military officer. In other
          countries of Europe a marshal is a military officer of
          high rank, and called field marshal.
      (e) (Am. Law) A ministerial officer, appointed for each
          judicial district of the United States, to execute the
          process of the courts of the United States, and
          perform various duties, similar to those of a sheriff.
          The name is also sometimes applied to certain police
          officers of a city.
          [1913 Webster]

   Earl marshal of England, the eighth officer of state; an
      honorary title, and personal, until made hereditary in the
      family of the Duke of Norfolk. During a vacancy in the
      office of high constable, the earl marshal has
      jurisdiction in the court of chivalry. --Brande & C.

   Earl marshal of Scotland, an officer who had command of the
      cavalry under the constable. This office was held by the
      family of Keith, but forfeited by rebellion in 1715.

   Knight marshal, or Marshal of the King's house, formerly,
      in England, the marshal of the king's house, who was
      authorized to hear and determine all pleas of the Crown,
      to punish faults committed within the verge, etc. His
      court was called the Court of Marshalsea.

   Marshal of the Queen's Bench, formerly the title of the
      officer who had the custody of the Queen's bench prison in
      Southwark. --Mozley & W.
      [1913 Webster]

Marshal \Mar"shal\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Marshaledor
   Marshalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Marshaling or Marshalling.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To dispose in order; to arrange in a suitable manner; as,
      to marshal troops or an army.
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            And marshaling the heroes of his name
            As, in their order, next to light they came.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. To direct, guide, or lead.
      [1913 Webster]

            Thou marshalest me the way that I was going. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Her.) To dispose in due order, as the different
      quarterings on an escutcheon, or the different crests when
      several belong to an achievement.
      [1913 Webster]

MARSHAL. An officer of the United States, whose duty it is to execute the 
process of the courts of the United States. His duties are very similar to 
those of a sheriff. 
     2. It is enacted by the act to establish the judicial courts of the 
United States, 1 Story's L. U. S. 53, as follows: 
     Sec. 27. That a marshal shall be appointed, in and for each district, 
for the term of four years, but shall be removable from office at pleasure 
whose duty it shall be to attend the district and circuit courts, when 
sitting therein, and also the supreme court in the district in which that 
court shall sit: and to execute throughout the district, all lawful precepts 
directed to him, and issued under the authority of the United States, and he 
shall have power to command all necessary assistance in the execution of his 
duty, and to appoint, as there shall be occasion, one or more deputies, who 
shall be removable from office by the judge of the district court, or the 
circuit court sitting within the district, at the pleasure of either. And 
before he enters on the duties of his office, he shall become bound for the 
faithful performance of the same, by himself and by his deputies, before the 
judge of the district court, to the United States jointly and severally, 
with two good and sufficient sureties, inhabitants and freeholders of such 
district, to be approved by the district judge, in the sum of twenty 
thousand dollars, and shall take before said judge, as shall also his 
deputies, before they enter on the duties of their appointment, the 
following oath of office: "I, A B, do solemnly swear or affirm, that I will 
faithfully execute all lawful precepts directed to the marshal of the 
district of________under the authority of the United States, and true 
returns make; and in all things well and truly, and without malice or 
partiality, perform the duties of the office of marshal (or marshal's 
deputy, as the case may be) of the district of _________ during my 
continuance in said office, and take only my lawful fees. So help me God." 
     3.-Sec. 28. That in all causes wherein the marshal, or his deputy, 
shall be a party, the writs and precepts therein shall be directed to such 
disinterested person, as the court, or any justice or judge thereof may 
appoint, and the person so appointed is hereby authorized to execute and 
return the same. And in case of the death of any marshal, his deputy or 
deputies, shall continue in office unless otherwise specially removed; and 
shall execute the same in the name of the deceased, until another marshal 
shall be appointed and sworn: And the defaults, or misfeasances in office of 
such deputy or deputies in the mean time, as well as before, shall be 
adjudged a breach of the condition of the bond given, as before directed, by 
the marshal who appointed them; and the executor or administrator of the 
deceased marshal, shall have like remedy for the defaults and misfeasances 
in office of such deputy or deputies during such interval, as they would be 
entitled to if the marshal had continued in life, and in the exercise of his 
said office, until his successor was appointed, and sworn or affirmed: And 
every marshal, or his deputy, when removed from office, or when the term for 
which the marshal is appointed shall expire, shall have power, 
notwithstanding, to execute all such precepts as may be in their hands, 
respectively, at the time of such removal or expiration of office; and the 
marshal shall be held answerable for the delivery to his successors of all 
prisoners which may be in his custody at the time of his removal, or when 
the term for which he is appointed shall expire, and for that purpose may 
retain such prisoners in his custody, until his successor shall be 
appointed, and qualified as the law directs. 
     4. By the act making certain alterations in the act for establishing 
the judicial courts, &c. passed June 9, 1794, 1 Story's L. U. S. 865, it is 
enacted, 
     Sec. 7. That so much of the act to establish the judicial courts of the 
United States, as is, or may be, construed to require the attendance of the 
marshals of all the districts at the supreme court, shall be, and the same 
is hereby repealed: And that the said court shall be attended, during its 
session, by the marshal of the district only, in which the court shall sit, 
unless the attendance of the marshals of other districts shall be required 
by special order of the said court. 
     5. The act of February 28, 1795, 1 Story's L. U. S. 391, directs, 
     Sec. 9. That the marshals of the several districts, and their deputies, 
shall have the same powers, in executing the laws of the United States, as 
sheriffs and their deputies, in the several states, have by law in executing 
the laws of the respective states. 
     6. There are various other legislative provisions in relation to the 
duties and rights of marshals, which are here briefly noticed with reference 
to the laws themselves. 
     7.-1. The act of May 8, 1792, s. 4, provides for the payment of 
expenses incurred by the marshal in holding the courts of the United States, 
the payment of jurors, witnesses, &c. 
     8.-2. The act of April 16, 1817, prescribes the duties of the marshal 
in relation to the proceeds of prizes captured by the public armed ships of 
the United States and sold by decree of court. 
     9.-3. The resolution of congress of March 3, 1791; the act of 
February 25, 1799, s. 5; and the resolution of March 3, 1821; all relate to 
the duties of marshals in procuring prisons, and detaining and keeping 
prisoners. 
    10.-4. The act of April 10, 1806, directs how and for what, marshals 
shall give bonds for the faithful execution of their office. 
    11.-5. The act of September 18, 1850, s. 5, prescribes the duties of 
the marshal in relation to obeying and executing all warrants and precepts 
issued under the provisions of this act, and the penalties he shall incur 
for refusing to receive and execute the said warrants when rendered, and for 
permitting the fugitive to escape after arrest, Vide Story's L. U. S. Index, 
h.t.; Serg. Const. Law, ch. 25; 2 Dall. 402; United States v. Burr, 365; 
Mason's R. 100; 2 Gall. 101; 4 Cranch, 96; 7 Cranch, 276; 9 Cranch, 86, 212; 
6 Wheat. 194; 9 Wheat. 645; Minot, Stat. U. S. Index, h.t.