a German nobleman ranking above a count. Margraves were originally counts appointed to govern frontier provinces, but all had become princes of the Holy Roman Empire by the 12th century
Word origin
C16: from Middle Dutch markgrave, literally: count of the march2
margrave in American English
(ˈmɑrˌgreɪv)
noun
1. Obsolete
a military governor of a march, or border province, in Germany
2.
the hereditary title of certain princes of the Holy Roman Empire or Germany
Derived forms
margravial (marˈgravial)
adjective
Word origin
MDu markgrave < MHG marcgrave < OHG marcgravo < marc (see mark1), a march, border + graf, a count, earl