/mahr"kwis, mahr kee"/ ; Fr. /mannrdd kee"/ , n. , pl. marquises, marquis /-keez"/ ; Fr. /-kee"/ .
a nobleman ranking next below a duke and above an earl or count.
Also, Brit., marquess .
[ 1250-1300; ME markis marquis marchese comes ) marc ( h ) ensis (count) of a borderland. See MARCH 2 , -ESE ]