- marquis
- c.1300, title of nobility, from O.Fr. marchis, lit. "ruler of a border area," from O.Fr. marche "frontier," from M.L. marca "frontier, frontier territory" (see march (n.)). Originally the ruler of border territories in various European nations (e.g. It. marchese, Sp. marqués); later a mere title of rank, below duke and above count.
- marquee
- 1690, "large tent," from Fr. marquise (mistaken in Eng. as a plural) "linen canopy placed over an officer's tent to distinguish it from others'," lit. fem. of marquis, perhaps indicating "a place suitable for a marquis." Sense of "canopy over the entrance to a hotel or theater, etc." first recorded 1934 in Amer.Eng.
- Queensberry Rules
- drawn up 1867 by Sir John Sholto Douglas (1844-1900), 8th Marquis of Queensberry, to govern the sport of boxing in Great Britain.
- bechamel
- 1796, named for Louis XIV's steward, Louis de Béchamel, marquis de Nointel (1630–1703), who perfected it.
- sadism
- "love of cruelty," 1888, from Fr. sadisme, from Count Donatien A.F. de Sade (1740-1815). Not a marquis, though usually now called one, he was notorious for cruel sexual practices he described in his novels.
- gibbon
- 1770, from Fr., supposedly from a word in the Fr. colonies of India but not found in any language there. Brought to Europe by Marquis Joseph-François Dupleix (1697-1763), Fr. governor general in India, 1742-54. The surname is O.Fr. Giboin, from Frank. *Geba-win "gift-friend," or in some cases a dim. of Gibb, itself a familiar form of Gilbert.
- lecher
- late 12c., from O.Fr. lecheor "one living a life of debauchery," esp. "one given to sexual indulgence," lit. "licker," agent noun from lechier "to lick, to live in debauchery or gluttony," from Frank. *likkon, from P.Gmc. *likkojan "to lick" (see lick).
"The priests had excellent cause to forbid us lechery: this injunction, by reserving to them acquaintance with and absolution for these private sins, gave them an incredible ascendancy over women, and opened up to them a career of lubricity whose scope knew no limits." [Marquis de Sade]
Related: Lecherous; lecherously; lechery.