Etymology From Middle English marchen, from Middle French marcher (“to march, walk”), from Old French marchier (“to stride, to march, to trample”), from Frankish *markōn (“to mark, mark out, to press with the foot”), from Proto-Germanic *markōną (“to mark”). Akin to Old English mearc, ġemearc (“mark, boundary”). Compare mark, from Old English mearcian. Compare typologically Russian сле́довать (slédovatʹ) (akin to след (sled)). Also compare пятно́ (pjatnó) (<~ пята́ (pjatá)).
1
A formal, rhythmic way of walking, used especially by soldiers, by bands, and in ceremonies.
2
A journey so walked.
3
A political rally or parade.
Mr. Nelson covered the Selma-to-Montgomery freedom marches, including Bloody Sunday, on March 7, 1965, when 600 marchers were attacked with billy clubs and tear gas.2009 October 21, Dennis Hevesi, “Jack Nelson, Journalist, Dies at 80”, in The New York Times, retrieved 12 Jun 2014:
4
Any song in the genre of music written for marching (see Wikipedia's article on this type of music)
Etymology From Middle English marchen, from Middle French marcher (“to march, walk”), from Old French marchier (“to stride, to march, to trample”), from Frankish *markōn (“to mark, mark out, to press with the foot”), from Proto-Germanic *markōną (“to mark”). Akin to Old English mearc, ġemearc (“mark, boundary”). Compare mark, from Old English mearcian. Compare typologically Russian сле́довать (slédovatʹ) (akin to след (sled)). Also compare пятно́ (pjatnó) (<~ пята́ (pjatá)).
1
To walk with long, regular strides, as a soldier does.
The column marching in double file, the instructor commands: […]1864, United States War Department, The 1864 Field Artillery Tactics, Stackpole Books, published 2005, →ISBN, page 120:
2
To cause someone to walk somewhere.
The old man heaved himself from the chair, seized Jessamy by her pinafore frill and marched her to the house.1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 84:
3
To go to war; to make military advances.
The armies drawing constantly nearer to each other, the king advised with his council, whether he should march against the Britons, or sall upon the count of Gharolois.1746, Charles Pinot Duclos, The history of Lewis xi. king of France. Transl, page 169:
Some say history repeats itself, that time is cyclical. Others cling to the notion of progress and change over time. Apparently Nancy Walker marches to a different drummer — marches backwards, that is. Her ideas on art and society seem quaint and odd on the one hand and, on the other, petty and regressive.1981 December 27, Wade Nichols, “Victorian Imperialism”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 23, page 5:
Etymology From Middle English marche (“tract of land along a country's border”), from Old French marche (“boundary, frontier”), from Frankish *marku, from Proto-Germanic *markō, from Proto-Indo-European *mórǵs (“edge, boundary”).
1
Archaic, Historical, Often A border region, especially one originally set up to defend a boundary.
Juan's companion was a Romagnole, / But bred within the March of old Ancona[…].1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, section IV:
2
Historical A region at a frontier governed by a marquess.
Derived terms
Lord Warden of the Marches, marcher, march-gat, march-land, march-man, marchman, marchmount, march parts, march-party, March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary, march stone, march-ward, Welsh Marches
Etymology From Middle English marche (“tract of land along a country's border”), from Old French marche (“boundary, frontier”), from Frankish *marku, from Proto-Germanic *markō, from Proto-Indo-European *mórǵs (“edge, boundary”).
1
To have common borders or frontiers
march
noun
Etymology From Middle English merche, from Old English merċe, mereċe, from Proto-West Germanic *marik, from Proto-Indo-European *móri (“sea”). Cognate Middle Low German merk, Old High German merc, Old Norse merki (“celery”). Compare also obsolete or regional more (“carrot or parsnip”), from Proto-Indo-European *mork- (“edible herb, tuber”).