Meaning: Its source is marah scalc, an Ancient Germanic name meaning "Horse keeper."

Narrative: This was an occupational name for the servant in charge of a great family's horses. In time it evolved into a title for aristocrats who performed certain ceremonial functions at a royal court.

Perhaps because of the sound-alike Latin name Martial (derived from the name of Roman war god Mars) it came to be used as the name for the highest possible military rank.

In the U.S., it is the title of law officers charged with the local enforcement of federal statutes.