Field Marshal

A Field Marshal (sometimes incorrectly spelled Marshall) is a military officer of the highest rank, one step above a full General or Colonel General. It is of a comparable rank to the similar position of General of the Army. The rank of Marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the King's horses (mare scalci) from the time of the early Frankish Kings.

Other meanings

• "Marshal" and "Marshall" are both common surnames, held by such notable figures as William Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke, and George C. Marshall, the United States Army Chief of Staff during World War II.
• A Marshal is also the name for a law enforcement officer, such as members of the United States Marshals Service, or Sky marshals who serve as undercover law enforcement onboard commercial aircraft.
• In the Royal Air Force and other air forces which use their rank system, Air Vice-Marshal, Air Marshal and Air Chief Marshal are equivalent ranks to Major General, Lieutenant General and General respectively.
• The Field Marshall is a model of agricultural tractor. The badge shows a Marshal's baton held by an arm.