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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mars(c)hal(l, v. Also: mar(s)chel, merschal, -schel(e, -chell. [Late ME. marchal (c 1430) to tend as farrier, e.m.E. marshal(l (16th c.) to place at table, f. Marschal(l n.]

1. To tend (horses) as a farrier. c1475 Wall. v. 762.
With his gud suerd the captayn has he tayn Quhill hors agayne he marscheld neuir nayn 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 202.
To deif Andro that marshalit foure hors to the King 1507 Ib. 380. 1511–12 Ib. IV. 326.
To William Cokburne, horse merschele, to merschele ane broun cursour quhilk come fra the King of France 1512 Ib. 307.
To merschele and mend the Kingis hors

2. To arrange (a group of persons) in order (freq., of precedence) at a feast or ceremony; to place or seat (a person) in his assigned position at table.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 693 (Asl.).
Scutiferis and sqwyeris & bachilleris blyth … all war merschalit [B. merchellit] to meit meikly & myth c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2159.
Tharein was marscheld may than twentie scoir a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1160.
Marschalit at mete a1500 Rauf C. 184.
Marschellit 15.. Clar. v. 778.
The threttie virginis … Into the hall war marchellit them allone c1650 Spalding I. 38 marg.
The Erll Marschall receavis him [Charles II, at his coronation] … marschallis the rest [text, places the … nobillis in ordour rankit eftir thair awin degrie](2) a1500 Sir Eger 2698.
Then sate Lillias, the lady bright; I wot they marshal'd her full right, Right with Sir Grahame, that noble knight 1540 Lynd. Sat. 746 (B).
Peur freiris ar fre at every fest And merchellit [Ch. marchellit] ay amang the best c1552 Id. Mon. 4680.
My lord abbot, rycht venerabyll, Ay marschellit vpmoste at the tabyll

b. gen. To set, place, rank (a person or persons) alongside or in the same predicament as (amang, with) certain others. c. fig. To group or identify (one group of persons) with certain others. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 587.
The Erle of Marche wes merschellit tham amang 1540 Id. Sat. 4246.
I servit be all hallowis To haif bene merchellit with [Ch. amang] my fallowis And heich abone thame hangit 1600-1610 Melvill 459.
War nocht they [bishops] wald think scham to be merschallit with sic as Piter speakes of ther viz. murderers [etc.]

3. Appar., to set up, arrange or adjust in some way (a gate or its parts). 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 142.
To ane wrycht to merchell the said yet, iij s.