[ mα:'ki: ]
■ noun
1》 chiefly Brit. a large tent used for social or commercial functions.
2》 N. Amer. a roof-like projection over the entrance to a theatre, hotel, or other building.
3》 [as modifier ] N. Amer. leading; pre-eminent: a ~ player.
Origin
C17: from marquise , taken as plural and assimilated to -ee ; sense 3 is with allusion to billing the name of an entertainer over the entrance to a theatre.