Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English markis < Middle French marquis < Italian marchese < Medieval Latin *(comēs) marc(h)ēnsis (count) of a borderland. See march2, -ese
(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
[C14: from Old French marchis, literally: count of the march, from marchemarch²]
Marquis (ˈmɑːkwɪs)
—n
Don(ald Robert Perry). 1878--1937, US humorist; author of archy and mehitabel (1927)
c.1300, title of nobility, from O.Fr. marchis, lit. "ruler of a border area," from O.Fr. marche "frontier," from M.L. marca "frontier, frontier territory" (see march (n.)). Originally the ruler of border territories in various European nations (e.g. It. marchese, Sp. marqués);