A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Provest mar(s)chall, n. Also: provoost and marsh-, mersch- and -ale, -ell, -eall. Pl. also prowestis mairschellis. [e.m.E. propheest marshall (1535), also provost marschal (a1548), cf. Provest n. or Provost n., and Marschal(l n. Cf. OF prevost des mareschaus = ‘provost of the mareschaulis’ s.v. Provost n. c.] A, chiefly or always military or naval, officer, charged with the apprehension and punishment of offenders. 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. 74.
Comperit … Annas Cunynghame provest merschale of the Franche cumpany and allegit procuratour for … capitane of ane Franche schip of weir 1571 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) I 104.
His lettre and messaige send with Johnne Cais the provest marscheall of Berwik 1571 Reg. Privy C. II 102.
Provest marcheall 1572 Ib. 133.
And that all honest men … apprehend the personis that salbe fund doand in the contrair heirof and present thame to the provest marschell that thay may be puneist as accordis c1615 Chron. Kings 10.
King Euenus wes the first that gave … the prowestis mairschellis, callit in Scottis, crownaris 1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 5a.
A regiment hath … for delinquents, a prouoost marshall
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Provest Marchall n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 30 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/provest_marschall>
