MARQUIS
marquis, marquess
(noun) nobleman (in various countries) ranking above a count
Marquis, Don Marquis, Donald Robert Perry Marquis
(noun) humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
marquis (plural marquises or marquis)
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.
Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Bassarona.
Source: Wiktionary
Mar"quis, n. Etym: [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.]
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition