Earl Marshal
Preserved but no longer current.
A high officer of state who presides over the College of Arms, grants armorial bearings, and is responsible for the arrangement of State ceremonials, processions, etc. Since 1483 the office has been hereditary in the line of the Dukes of Norfolk.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Earl Marshal” mean?
A high officer of state who presides over the College of Arms, grants armorial bearings, and is responsible for the arrangement of State ceremonials, processions, etc. Since 1483 the office has been hereditary in the line of the Dukes of Norfolk.
Is “Earl Marshal” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.