English

Noun

margrave ‎(plural margraves)

1. A feudal era military-administrative officer of comital rank in the Carolingian empire and some successor states, originally in charge of a border area.
   • 1973: Among pulverised heads of stone margraves and electors, reconnoitering a likely-looking cabbage patch, all of a sudden Slothrop picks up the scent of an unmistakable no it can’t be yes it is it’s a REEFER! — Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow
2. A hereditary ruling prince in certain feudal states of the Holy Roman Empire and elsewhere; the titular equivalent became known as marquis or marquess.
   • 1516: The Margrave of Bruges was their head. — Thomas More, Utopia, Chapter 1.

Derived terms

Related terms

• burgrave
• landgrave
• palsgrave
• waldgrave

Translations

French

Etymology

From Middle Dutch marcgrāve (modern Dutch markgraaf).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maʁɡʁav/

Noun

margrave m ‎(plural margraves)

1. A margrave

Derived terms

• margraviat m

Related terms

• marquis m

Noun

margrave f ‎(plural margraves)

1. margravine

Synonyms

• margravine

Portuguese

Noun

margrave m (plural margraves)

1. margrave (military officer in charge of German border area)

Spanish

Etymology

From German Markgraf.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maɾˈɡɾaβe/

Noun

margrave m ‎(plural margraves)

1. A margrave