| 释义 |
▪ I. † march, n.1 Obs.
Forms: 1 merici, merice, (Northumb. meric), merece, merce, mearce, 4–7 merche, 6 march(e.
[OE. merece str. masc. = OS. (glosses) merk, merka (MLG. merk masc.), G. merk masc., MSw. märke, merkie fem., Da. merke.]
Smallage or wild celery, Apium graveolens.
a700Epinal Gloss. 24 Apio, merici. a800Corpus Gloss. 182 Apio, merice. c1000Sax. Leechd. II. 134 Genim merce nioþoweardne. c1000ælfric Gram. (Z.) 27 Apiaster, merce. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. xiii. (Helmingham MS.), Merche is calde Apium. 1545Elyot Dict., Hipposelinon, some suppose it to bee the herbe called smallache, or marche. 1562Turner Herbal ii. 68 b, Hipposelinon hath leues lyke vnto march or smalache, but roughe. 1572J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 76 b, A Pyle in poyncte betwene two slippes of Merche, verte. 1578Lyte Dodoens v. xlii. 606 Of Marish Parsley, March, or Smallache. 1632Guillim's Heraldry iv. xvi. (ed. 2) 353 Apium..is called in English Merche.
▪ II. march, n.3|mɑːtʃ|
Forms: 3–7 marche, 6–7 Sc. merch(e, 3– march. Pl. 1, 4–6 marchis, 5 marchez, -ys, 6 marces, marchesse, marchies, Sc. marchis, merche(i)s, mer(s)chis, mairches, 4– marches.
[a. F. marche fem., a Com. Rom. word = Pr., Sp., Pg., It. marca, ad. Teut. *markâ (OHG., OS. marka, OE. mearc): see mark n.1]
1. Boundary, frontier, border.
a. The border or frontier of a country. Hence, a tract of land on the border of a country, or a tract of debatable land separating one country from another. Often collect. pl., esp. with reference to the portions of England bordering respectively on Scotland and on Wales. Now Hist. and arch.
In early examples the March (of Wales) is an etymological rendering of Mercia. Court of (the) Marches: see quot. 1848.
c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 345/2 He was kyng in Engelonde: of þe Marche of Walis. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 60 Þe king of westsex and of kent & of norþhomber..& þe kyng of þe march þat was here amidde. 1375Barbour Bruce xvi. 357 Of the marchis than had he The gouernale and the pouste. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 61 Schroysbury is a citee vppon Seuarn in þe marche of Engelond and of Wales. a1400–50Alexander 913 Þan was a man in Messadone in þe marche duellid, A proued prince. 1425Rolls of Parlt. IV. 276/2 Wardeyns of oure Est and West Marches. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxxxvii. 165 The quene of Englande..was as thanne in the marchesse of the Northe, about Yorke. 1532–3Act 24 Hen. VIII, c. 12 §2 Any personne..resiaunte..within any the Kinges saide Dominions or Marches of the same. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 50 Henry Zutphan was put to death..by them of Dietmary, which is in the marces of Germany. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 1213/1 The lord Hunsdon lord warden of the east marches, and gouernor of Berwike. 1584Whitgift Let. to Burleigh in Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. (1655) 157 Sure I am it is most usuall in the Court of the Marches (Arches rather) whereof I have the best experience. 1602Warner Alb. Eng. Epit. (1612) 355 The Pictes..then occupying those parts which we now call the middle Marches, betwixt the English and Scots. 1612Drayton Poly-olb. vii. 8 The Herefordian floods..with their superfluous waste Manure the batfull March. c1630Risdon Surv. Devon §225 (1810) 238 And 'twas 'twixt Britts and Saxons made the march. 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. vi. §51 This Oath..is usually tendered in Chancery, Court of Requests, Councel of Marches, and Councel in the North. 1848Wharton Law Lex. s.v., Court of Marches, an abolished tribunal in Wales, where pleas of debt or damages, not above the value of 50l., were tried and determined. 1859Tennyson Geraint & Enid 41 He craved a fair permission to depart And there defend his marches. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. iv. 157 Granted in fief..as a march or border territory. 1875Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xvi. 345 Hugh came into collision with..the rest of the rival lords of the marches.
b. The boundary of an estate; the boundary dividing one estate from another. Chiefly Sc.
1540in 5th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 609/1 The rycht meithis and merchis is and salbe..betuix the saidis landis. 1637–50Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) 196 No man shall ever let me see where any of the apostles sat as judges to other men, or to sett in marches, or to divyde men's lands. 1818Hogg Brownie of B. vii, It was..in the march between two lairds' lands, that he preached that day. 1839De Quincey Recoll. Lakes Wks. 1862 II. 2 Woodlands..intervening the different estates with natural sylvan marches. 1886Act 49 & 50 Vict. c. 29 §21 Any questions relating to the boundaries or marches between crofters' holdings.
†c. A boundary mark, landmark. Obs.
1513Douglas æneis xii. xiv. 30 Ane ald crag stane..Quhilk..was liggand neyr, A marche set in that grund..Of twa feildis. 1577Holinshed Chron., Hist. Scot. 255/2 In the middest of Stanemoore there shall be a Crosse set vp, with the king of Englandes image on the one side, and the king of Scotlands on the other, to signifie that the one is marche to England, and the other to Scotland.
d. fig.
1637Rutherford Lett. lxxxii. (1862) I. 207 When..ye are in the utmost..border of time and shall put your foot within the march of eternity. 1786A. Gib Sacred Contempl. 269 A march ought to be fixed between his private and his public obedience. 1879G. Macdonald P. Faber III. xvi. 265 Over the march of two worlds, that of the imagination, and that of fact, her soul hovered fluttering.
e. to redd, rid, ride the marches: see redd v.2 2 c, rid, v., ride v.
†2. Used for: Country, territory. [Cf. L. fines.]
13..K. Alis. 3019 He hath y-wonne..Theo marche of Fraunse, and of Spayne, And Tolouse, and eke Almayne. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xv. 438 And þorw myracles.. al þat marche he [Austyn] torned to cryst. 1470–85Malory Arthur i. x, Vlfius & Brastias..shold haue suche chere as myghte be made them in tho marchys. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon vi. 138 Blessed be the hour that ye were borne, and cam in to thyse marches.
3. In renderings of continental names of territories.
†a. Applied to the mark of Brandenburg (obs.).
b. = It. Marca (see quot. 1875).
1726Leoni Alberti's Archit. I. 30/2 In the March of Ancona,..they find a white Stone, which [etc.]. 1758Ann. Reg. 20 Richlieu..made his way into..the old marche of Brandenburg. 1875Encycl. Brit. II. 9/2 Ancona..forms part of the old district of the Marches, which passed from the dominion of the Pope to that of Victor Emmanuel in 1860. The Marches comprise the March of Ancona on the north and the March of Fermo on the south.
4. attrib. and Comb., as (sense 1 b) march-balk, march-dike, march-ditch, march-fence, march-line; (sense 1 a) march † captain, † march cause, † march garrison, march law, march shire, march-treason (arch.); † march-day, ? a court held to try cases of infraction of border laws; † march-gat (? gate n.2), ? a way across a frontier; † march parts, -party, the marches; † march-ward, ‘a warden of the marches’ (Webster 1864). Also march-land, march-man, march-stone.
1683Fountainhall's Decis. Lds. Counc. Session (1759) I. 224 In regard the witness had deponed upon her tilling and riveing out the *march-balk.
1537St. Papers Hen. VIII, II. 452 Every of His Gracis subjectis, having landes in like places of daungier, bee orderid to departe therwith to *marche capitayns. 1538Ibid. III. 37 Marches capitaynes.
1537Ibid. 489 That ther were, in every marche, wardens..whiche shulde have auctorytye..to here and redresse all robberyes, *marche causeis [etc.].
1900A. Lang Hist. Scot. I. x. 293 In ruling the Borders, making raids and holding *March-days.
1794R. Heron Gen. View Hebudæ 90 Let the landlords take upon themselves the expence of building every where sufficient *march-dykes.
1830W. Carleton Traits Peas. (1843) I. 118 This river..was the *march ditch, or merin between our farms.
1882Bell's Dict. Law Scot. 619/2 A tenant..is bound.. to maintain *march-fences erected by the landlord during the lease.
1537St. Papers Hen. VIII, II. 429 Distrusting to commytt the custodie of dyvers of the *marche garrisons to any of this landes birthe.
a1400–50Alexander 5076 He leuys all þe *march gats I neuend ȝow before.
1612Davies Why Ireland, etc. 123 That no Englishman be ruled in the definition of their debates by the *March-Law or the Brehon Law.
1886G. Macdonald What's Mine's Mine III. ix. 158 If he did not everywhere know where the *march-line fell, at least he knew perfectly where it ought to fall.
14..Chevy Chase 120 (Skeat) For towe such captayns as slayne wear thear on the *march parti shall neuer be non.
Ibid. 138 Ther was neuer a tym on the *marche partes [etc.].
1917Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. 483 The Warden..had simply taken over certain duties hitherto discharged by the sheriff in the *March shires.
1805Scott Last Minstr. iv. xxiv, We claim from thee William of Deloraine, That he may suffer *march-treason pain.
▪ III. march, n.4|mɑːtʃ|
Also 6 martch.
[a. F. marche, vbl. noun from marcher: see march v.2]
I. Action of marching.
1. a. The action of marching; the regular forward movement together and in time of a body of troops. Also, the orderly forward movement of a company, an exploring party, a procession, etc.; also, a procession organised as an expression of (esp. political) dissent, or to draw attention to a particular problem, etc.; cf. hunger-march.
1590Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons Ded. 8 Also, whereas it hath been the vse of all great Captaines and Chieftaines, vpon anie long march and enterprise intended. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iv. iii. 8 Two mightier Troopes..Which ioyn'd with him, and made their march for Burdeaux. 1667Milton P.L. v. 775 For whom all this haste Of midnight march. 1672Sir W. Talbot (title) The Discoveries of John Lederer, in three several Marches from Virginia to the West of Carolina. 1781T. Simes Mil. Guide (ed. 3) 12 They [pioneers] are to..make preparations for the march of the army. 1837W. Irving Capt. Bonneville I. 159 A march of three or four days..brought Captain Bonneville to..Jackson's Hole. 1850Grote Greece ii. lxx. (1888) VII. 270 Three days of additional march brought them to the Euphrates. 1908, etc. [see hunger-march s.v. hunger n. 4 e]. 1952Ann. Reg. 1951 105 In May the Commando arranged a symbolic ‘march’ to Capetown to present a formal petition to Parliament. 1962[see Aldermaston]. 1970K. Giles Death in Church ii. 29 He's a crank and a fire-brand... Not a ‘march’ goes by without him carrying a banner. 1973Black World Nov. 42/2 Perhaps the most arresting result of the thousands of ‘sit-ins’ and ‘marches’ by Afro-Americans in the early Sixties..has been the obligation and opportunity of the entire world to re-evaluate the contributions of the Black American to world society.
b. Phrases. column of march (see quot. 1876). line of march: direction or route of marching; transf., course of travelling, way. in († a full) march, on or upon (a or their) march: marching.
1639Articles Mil. Discipl. 11 Every man is to keep his own rank and file upon the march. 1667Milton P.L. i. 413 When he entic'd Israel in Sittim on their march from Nile. 1707Lond. Gaz. No. 4353/1 The Duke of Savoy's Army are in a full March for this Place. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) II. ii. ii. 2 They attacked the Carthaginians, who were upon their march. 1780A. Hamilton Wks. (1886) VIII. 11 All the army is in march toward you. 1781T. Simes Milit. Guide (ed. 3) 12 The routes must be so formed, that no column cross another on the march. 1835W. Irving Tour Prairies xviii, They crossed the line of our march without..perceiving us. 1844H. H. Wilson Brit. India II. 236 Detachments of the 65th regiment,..on their march to join the 4th division. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 202 The snow above us, broke across, forming a fissure parallel to our line of march. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 414 Whether in actual battle or on a march. 1876Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict., Column of March, a formation assumed by troops on the line of march.
c. Applied to steady progression of animals on a long journey. Also, with reference to persons, a long and toilsome walk.
1691Ray Creation ii. (1692) 124 The swiftness and continuance of the march, for which this Animal [the camel] is almost indefatigable. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 86 The Motions of their hasty Flight attend; And know to Floods, or Woods, their airy March they [Bees] bend. 1705Addison Italy 238 We came to the Roots of the Mountain, and had a very troublesome March to gain the Top of it. 1832Lytton Eugene A. i. ii, I have had a long march of it. 1888Harper's Mag. July 198/2, I knew they [sc. elephants] would be on the march again before daylight.
d. In comb. with following adv., forming nouns of action to phrases of the verb, as march out, a sortie; march past (spec. see quot. 1876).
1863Illustr. Lond. News 27 June 706/1 During the march past the band played. 1869A. W. Ward tr. Curtius' Hist. Greece II. iii. i. 273 Themistocles insisted upon a second march-out against the enemy. 1876Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict., March Past, an expression made use of when a regiment or any larger body of men pass in review order before the sovereign or reviewing officer. 1924O. W. Campbell Shelley & Unromantics ii. 10 Telling them [sc. Shelley's friends] over is like calling for a march past of the Seven Deadly Sins. 1928Manch. Guardian Wkly. 10 Aug. 101/1 The march past of the pilgrims in the Grand Place of Ypres. 1961Times 5 June 3/5 The teams [of swimmers] risked a premature ducking by a carefully routed march-past.
2. transf. and fig. Advance, forward movement, progress. Also, course or direction of advance.
a. With reference to the ‘journey’ of life.
a1625Fletcher Hum. Lieut. iii. v, Our lives are but our martches to our graves. 1804Campbell Soldier's Dream iv, I flew to the pleasant fields travers'd so oft In life's morning march, when my bosom was young. 1816Byron Ch. Har. iii. xcviii, We may resume The march of our existence. 1871Morley Voltaire (1886) 6 Voltaire's march was prepared for him, before he was born.
b. Of physical things.
1683A. Snape Anat. Horse i. xxviii. 63 [The Veins] continue their march through the Allantoides to the Chorion... Their [sc. Arteries] march and insertions are the same with those of the Vein. 1794Cowper Needless Alarm 29 The sun, accomplishing his early march. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VI. 108 Mediastinal cancer..makes its onward march involving whatever may come in its path. Ibid. VII. 260 Then followed a march of a sensation of pins and needles down the opposite side of the body. Ibid. 290 No exact description is given of the march of the spasms.
c. Of time, events, population, etc.
a1797H. Walpole Mem. Geo. III (1845) I. i. 3 The regular march of history. 1798Malthus Popul. (1817) II. 40 The march of the population in both periods seems to have been nearly the same. 1833Lamb Elia Ser. ii. Pref., He did not conform to the march of time. 1833Fraser's Mag. VIII. 343 The common person [is] sadly puzzled to understand the ordonnance and march of the plot. 1852Grote Greece ii. lxxii. (1856) IX. 259 Doubtless each [Lysandrian Dekarchy] had its own peculiar march: some were less tyrannical; but perhaps some even more tyrannical [than the Thirty at Athens]. 1871Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xviii. 108 These Northumbrian disturbances had little bearing on the general march of events.
d. Of knowledge, etc., esp. in the phrase march of intellect or mind. Also attrib.
Very common (esp. in ironical allusion) between 1827 (the date of the foundation of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge) and 1850.
[1775Burke Speech moving Conciliation with Colonies 51 The march of the human mind is slow.] 1818Keats Let. 3 May (1931) I. 157 It proves there is really a grand march of intellect. 1821Lady Morgan Italy I. viii. 170 Impediments are now thrown in the march of mind... To retrograde, not to advance, is the order of the times. 1827Gentl. Mag. XCVII. ii. p. ii, What is ‘the march of intellect’—The mighty march of mind? 1833R. H. Froude Rem. (1838) I. 309, I tried hard to get up the march-of-mind phraseology about pictures and statues. 1844S. R. Maitland Dark Ages 185 He was quite a march-of-intellect man. 1852Tennyson Ode Wellington 167 And drill the raw world for the march of mind, Till crowds at length be sane and crowns be just.
3. a. Mil. The portion of marching done continuously; the distance covered by troops in one day. forced march: see forced ppl. a. 3.
1594Shakes. Rich. III, v. ii. 13 From Tamworth thither, is but one dayes march. 1650R. Stapylton Strada's Low C. Warres vii. 77 He by long Marches passing the Rhine came to Delph in Holland. 1724De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 171 It gave the king a full day's march of him. 1813Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1838) X. 431 The army are..within two or three marches of the Ebro. 1895United Service Mag. July 430 The precautions for the night march to prevent a light from being seen.
fig.1845Longfellow Belfry of Bruges, Carillon, Still I heard those magic numbers, As they loud proclaimed the flight And stolen marches of the night.
b. Phrases. to (gain, get) a march on or upon: to get ahead of to the extent of a march. to steal a march (on or upon): to gain a march by stealth; often fig.
1707Lond. Gaz. No 4353/3 His Royal Highness hath gain'd a March upon Monsieur de Guebriant. 1745H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 59 The young Pretender..has got a march on General Cope. 1771Smollett Humph. Cl. I. 127 She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy. 1833Marryat P. Simple xxiii, We must be off early,..and steal a long march upon them. 1844Poe Oblong Box in Godey's Lady's Bk. Sept. 133/1 He evidently intended to steal a march upon me, and smuggle a fine picture to New York, under my very nose. 1950T. S. Eliot Cocktail Party ii. 93 He's quite triumphant Because he thinks he's stolen a march on her.
4. a. The regular and uniform step of a body of men, esp. of troops. Also with qualifying adj., as double march, quick march, slow march. See also quick march 1.
1773–83Hoole Orl. Fur. xvi. 566 So loud their march, the Scots suspended hear, They leave their ranks and stain their fame with fear. 1820Shelley Ode to Naples 127 Hear ye the march as of the Earth-born Forms Arrayed against the everliving Gods? 1889Infantry Drill 25 The length of which [plummet-string]..must be as follows for the different degrees of march. Ibid. 29 The Slow March. Ibid. 31 The Quick March. Ibid. 32 The Double March.
b. fig. Of verse: Rhythmic movement.
1635–56Cowley Davideis i. 450 Till all the Parts and Words their Places take And with just Marches Verse and Musick make. 1737Pope Hor. Epist. ii. i. 269 But Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full-resounding line, The long majestic march, and Energy divine.
5. Mil. A beating of the drum in a particular rhythm as an accompaniment to the marching of troops.
c1572Gascoigne Fruites Warre, L'enuoié, If drummes once sounde a lustie martch in deede, Then farewell bookes, for he will trudge with speede. 1617Moryson Itin. iii. 267 A man can hardly distinguish betweene the beating of the drums of the Sweitzers, and Germans, saue that the former march is more graue and slow. 1727–41Chambers Cycl. s.v. Drum, There are divers beats of the Drum: as the march, double march, assembly, charge [etc.]. 1781T. Simes Milit. Guide (ed. 3) 12 The general beats at 2; the assemblé at 3; and the march in 20 minutes after. Ibid., The drummers are to beat a march, and fifers play at the head of the line.
6. Mus.
a. A tune or composition of marked rhythm (of which the rhythmical drum-beats, sense 5, originally formed the essential, and still often form a subsidiary, part), designed to accompany the marching of troops, etc.; also any composition of similar character and form; usually in common time, and with a subsidiary intermediate section or ‘trio’. So also march past. dead march: see dead D. 2; also funeral march. rogue's march, wedding march (see rogue, wedding).
1603Dekker King's Entert. (1604) E 2, Nine Trumpets, and a Kettle Drum, did very sprightly & actiuely sound the Danish March. 1706Addison Rosamond i. iv, 'Tis Henry's March! the tune I know. 1719Dancing-Master II. 29 Duke of Marlborough's March. Ibid. 221 The Foot⁓guards march: Or, Boatswain William's Delight. 1784Cowper Task iv. 647 He hates the field, in which no fife or drum Attends him, drives his cattle to a march [etc.]. 1822Byron Werner iv. i. 272 I'll play you King Gustavus' march. 1839Longfellow Psalm of Life iv, Our hearts..Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. 1876Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict. 244/1 Each regiment in the British service has its special march for marching past. 1896N. Newnham-Davis Three Men & a God 77, I could hear Kelley..whistling the regimental march-past.
b. attrib., as in march-movement, march-time.
1864Browning Dîs aliter visum viii, Schumann's our music-maker now; Has his march-movement youth and mouth?
7. Euchre. (See quot.) [Cf. It. marcio ‘a lurch or maiden set at any game’ (Florio).]
1886Euchre: how to play it 108 March, where all the tricks are made by one side. 1895in Funk's Stand. Dict. (with phrase to make a march).
II. Various senses adopted from F. marche.
†8. Foot-print (of an otter). Obs. rare—1. (Cf. mark n.1 13 c.)
c1410Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) x, Men clepeth þat þe stepes or þe marches of þe Otyr, as men clepeth þe traces of þe herte.
9. Chess, etc. The move of a ‘man’.
1672Barbier Saul's Fam. Game Chesse iv, What is the draught or marche of each peece. 1850Bohn's Handbk. Games 503 (Polish Draughts) The march of the Pawn..is the same as in the English game.
fig.1587Greene Carde of Fancie (1593) E, Houering betweene feare and hope, hee began the assault with this march. Madame (quoth he) for that [etc.].
10. Weaving. (See quot.)
1875Knight Dict. Mech. 1393/2 March (Weaving), one of the short laths laid across the treadles under the shafts.
▪ IV. march, v.1|mɑːtʃ|
Forms: 4 marchen, 4–6 marche, 6 Sc. mairch, mearch, 6–7 merch, 5– march.
[In sense 1, a. OF. marchir, f. marche march n.3 In sense 2, f. march n.3; cf. obs. F. marcher to bound (Rabelais).]
1. intr. To border upon; to have a common frontier with. Formerly also † const. to, unto. Said of countries, estates, etc., and hence of their rulers, owners, or inhabitants.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7929 He graunted þem þanne to haue Southsex, Oxenfordschire, & Middelsex, ffor þey marchen vpon Kent. 1375Barbour Bruce i. 99 Till occupy Landis, that war till him marcheand. a1412Lydg. Two Merch. 16 This riche lond..With Surry marchith toward thorient. 1481Caxton Myrr. ii. ii. 66 Europe..endureth fro the weste unto the north, & marcheth vnto Asie. 1515St. Papers Hen. VIII, II. 19 Orayly is the strongeyst Iryshe rebell that marcheyth with the countye of Meathe. c1530Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 100 Ioynynge to thys erledome there marched a duchy. 1598Hakluyt Voy. I. 65 The..Don, vpon the banke whereof marcheth a certain prince. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xxviii, She displayed so much kindness to Jeanie Deans, (because she herself, being a Merse woman, marched with Mid-Lothian, in which Jeanie was born) [etc.]. 1822Galt Provost xl. (1868) 117 A piece of ground that marched with the spot whereon it was intended to construct the new building. 1883Arnold-Forster in 19th Cent. Sept. 399 Nor do they refrain from fighting because they march on each other and do a good business across the frontier. 1889Times 25 Feb. 9/4 The frontiers of Dakota, Montana, and Washington march with the Canadian Dominion.
†b. ? To join. Obs.
The quots. may possibly belong to march v.2
1377Langl. P. Pl. B. Prol. 63 Many of þis maistres Freris mowe clothen hem at lykyng, For here money and marchandise marchen [1362 meeten ofte] togideres. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 270 The Inglischemen war all come ower the brige and the wangaird was neir mearchant togither. Then the trumpitis blew..and the wangairdis ioynitt togither.
†2. ? To serve for the defence of a frontier. Obs.
1577–87Harrison England i. xii. in Holinshed, At this Poulruan is a tower of force, marching against the tower on Fawy side.
†3. trans. To fix the bounds of; to mark the boundaries of with landmarks. Sc. Obs.
1541Aberdeen Reg. XVII. (Jam.), The Baillie ordanit the lynaris to pass to the ground of the said tenement, and lyne and marche the same. 1588Burgh Rec. Glasgow (1876) I. 121 And to stob and merche the samyn [landis] that the quantitie may be knawin. 1659A. Hay Diary (S.H.S.) 42, [I] did set fut-stons and merch and meith all the propertie of Locarthill wher it is contiguous wt Symontoun.
▪ V. march, v.2|mɑːtʃ|
Also 6 mersh, merch, 6–7 martch.
[a. F. marcher, orig. to tread, trample (12th c.), hence, to walk. In the specific military application the word has been adopted not only in Eng. but in other European langs., as Sp., Pg. marchar, It. marciare, G. marschiren, Du. marcheren, Da. marschere, Sw. marschera.
The etymology of F. marcher is obscure; the prevailing view is that the oldest recorded sense ‘to trample’ was developed from a sense ‘to hammer’, and that the word represents a Gaulish Latin *marcāre, f. L. marcus hammer.]
1. a. intr. To walk in a military manner with regular and measured tread; of a body of men or troops, to walk in step, to go forward with a regular and uniform movement. Also, to begin to walk in step; to start on a march, to set out from quarters. Also with advbs., as away, forth, forward, off, on, out, past.
1515Scotish Field 146 in Percy Fol. I. 219 Then he bowneth him boldlye ouer the broad waters, & manlye him Marcheth [Lyme MS. (Chetham Misc. 1856 II) reads marketh] to the Mill feelde. a1548Hall Chron., Rich. III 39 The duke with all his power mershed through the forest of deane. 1591Garrard's Art Warre 54 They..which march in the formost ranckes. 1617Moryson Itin. iii. 267 When they are to march, the law commands them to lay aside all priuate quarrels. 1710Lond. Gaz. No. 4710/1 The Garrison marched out..in the Forenoon. 1742Pope Dunc. iv. 101 There march'd the bard and blockhead, side by side. 1781T. Simes Milit. Guide (ed. 3) 12 The army marches to-morrow. Ibid., The field-pieces march with the columns. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xxxiv, The champions were now ordered to march in their turns around the lists. 1844H. H. Wilson Brit. India II. 453 The troops marched against the Arabs. 1855Tennyson Maud i. v. 10 Singing of men that in battle array,..March with banner and bugle and fife, To the death. 1860Illustr. Lond. News 23 June 598/3 When her Majesty returns to the Royal standard the volunteers will march past in quick time.
†b. Conjugated with be. Obs.
1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. i. 187 Fifteene hundred Foot, fiue hundred Horse Are march'd vp to my Lord of Lancaster. 1648Hamilton Papers (Camden) 206 His tertia, consisting of 5 regiments, is alreadie marcht. 1707Freind Peterborow's Cond. Sp. (ed. 2, corrected) 220, I hope Collonel Wills is March'd.
c. fig.
1684T. Hockin God's Decrees 352 In the camp, where sin and vice did march uncontroul'd. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 370 The spumy Waves proclaim the watry War; And mounting upwards, with a mighty Roar, March onwards, and insult the rocky Shoar. 1711Addison Spect. No. 34 ⁋11 Having thus taken my Resolutions to march on boldly in the Cause of Virtue and good Sense.
d. quasi-trans. To go upon (a warfare); to traverse (a distance) in marching. Also rarely trans. by ellipsis of prep.
1619J. Sempill Sacrilege Handled App. 38 Whether we march a Warfare in our Conquering Word, Dieu et mon droit; If [etc.]. 1813T. Busby Lucretius I. iii. 1240 He..bade his legion march the briny main. 1884J. Colborne Hicks Pasha 27 Forty-five miles have to be traversed; this will be marched in three days.
e. Mil. Used in the imperative as a word of command. Also march on.
1593Shakes. Rich. II, iii. iii. 61 March on, and marke King Richard how he lookes. 1760New Manual Exerc. (ed. 3) 4 On the Word March, the Officers stepping off with their Left-feet [etc.]. 1832Regul. Instr. Cavalry iii. 116 Walk, Trot, or Gallop, March. 1833Ibid. i. 21 The word March, given singly, at all times denotes that ‘slow time’ is to be taken.
f. To engage in a protest, etc., march (see march n.4 1 a).
1967Freedomways VII. 102 Where is the Federal Government today as civil rights workers in Louisville face screaming mobs, throwing rocks and bottles at them as they peacefully march to end housing discrimination? 1969New Yorker 14 June 76/3 He has repeatedly been asked to march and picket. 1972Times 19 Oct. 5/7 (heading) Doctors march in Vienna.
2. To walk in a steady or deliberate manner; to go, proceed, travel. Also with advbs., as off, on, out.
1572Lament. Lady Scotland 332 in Satir. Poems Reform. xxxiii, ‘Becaus’, quod thay, ‘that ȝe alone tuik Pryde, And thocht that we suld not marche ȝow besyde’. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xxv. 66 If a man did see them [Græcian women] as they do march, he woulde take them to be Nymphes. 1594T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 409 That God hath made them men, and not beastes ramping on the earth, or marching vpon all foure. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies i. iii. 13 In my trauell passing the great gulfes of the Ocean, and marching by other regions of so strange lands. 1634W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. I.) 77 From thence I march into a meddow. 1735Pope Donne Sat. iv. 249 Thus finish'd,..They march, to prate their hour before the Fair. 1770F. Burney Early Diary 7 Feb., Tea being over, we marched into a larger room, and minuets were begun. 1810Splendid Follies I. 156 Do march on and shew the village lions. 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxv, Miss Ophelia marched straight to her own chamber. 1896A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad xvii, Now in Maytime to the wicket Out I march with bat and pad.
fig.c1586C'tess Pembroke Ps. l. vii, Loe, thou see'st I march another pace And come with truth thy falshood to disclose.
3. In various transf. and fig. senses.
a. Of inanimate things: To travel, go with a steady and regular movement.
1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies i. ii. 7 This space and region by which they faine that stars do continually march and rowle. 1632Lithgow Trav. ix. 392, I haue seene in an euening march along for Recreation aboue 60 coaches. 1852Clough Songs in Absence i. 6 Without a strain the great ship marches by.
b. To advance, make progress. Also to march on.
1648J. Beaumont Psyche iii. lxiii, So wrought this nimble Artist, and admir'd Her self to see the Work march on so fast. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. I. xvii. 200 His symptoms marched rapidly to their result. 1868J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. I. 250 After this events marched quickly. 1882W. Ballantine Exper. ii. 14 Bricks and mortar, marching in all directions, have eaten up many a green field. 1884Pall Mall G. 12 Aug. 3/1 The Congress at Versailles is at last beginning to march. 1889Skrine Mem. E. Thring 203 It was the president who made the enterprise march.
†c. To be assigned to a specified rank or position in a series; to ‘rank’ with, after, etc. Obs.
1600E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 69 Making them march in one degree of equall iustice with their inferiours. 1625Hart Anat. Ur. i. iv. 37 My purpose is, first to propound some reasons against the same: and in the next place shall march some authorities of the learned. 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 96 Nor are our Cities of sufficiencie to march in the first ranke of magnificence. 1640Bp. Hall Episc. iii. i. 208 These [Elders] sometimes marched with the highest offices; so we have Elders and Iudges,..Princes and Elders.
†d. to march off: (a) to become a bankrupt; (b) to die. Obs.
1683Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 251 Mr. Temple, an eminent banker.., is lately broke for {pstlg}150,000, and tis thought severall of that calling will march off also. 1693–4Wood Life Jan. (O.H.S.) III. 441 Lord Sidney..was taken also with a fit, and would have marched off, had it not been for..Dr. Radcliff his physitian.
4. a. trans. (causatively). To cause to march or move in military order.
1595Shakes. John iii. i. 246 [Shall we] Vn-sweare faith sworne, and on the marriage bed Of smiling peace to march a bloody hoast? 1642in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 527 There are great numbers both of horse and foot raised and marched into divers parts of this our Kingdom. 1701Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) V. 9 That they may be ready to march them on any occasion. 1724De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 66 As they were wheeled, or marched, or retreated by their officers.
b. To cause (a person) to walk or go, to force to go, to conduct. Also to march off.
1884Manch. Exam. 4 June 4/7 Many a Persian peasant..has been marched off captive by Turcoman slave-raiders. 1896‘M. Field’ Attila ii. 45, I should be glad to march you to the gate.
▪ VI. march
obs. or dial. form of marsh n.1 |