The spelling of the word "marches" is a bit tricky because it has a silent "h". The first part of the word is pronounced as "mɑːtʃ" with a long "a" sound followed by the "r" sound and the "ch" sound. The "es" at the end of the word is pronounced as "ɪz" because it follows a consonant sound. The word "marches" has various meanings depending on the context, but it can refer to a group of people walking together in a formal procession or a type of geographical feature.
Marches is a plural noun that refers to a series of contiguous borderlands between two territories or countries, typically characterized by a heightened military or political significance. These areas are often situated along frontiers or boundaries and serve as a buffer zone or defensive barrier. They can exist in various forms, including natural geographic features such as rivers, mountains, or forests, or man-made divisions like walls or fences.
Historically, marches have played a crucial role in safeguarding territories from attacks or invasions, serving as a line of defense against rival nations or groups. They served as a protective measure and enabled control over the movement of people, goods, and military forces. Marches often had fortified garrisons, forts, or watchtowers strategically placed to ensure effective surveillance and defense.
Beyond their military significance, marches were also instrumental in facilitating trade and communication between neighboring regions. They acted as contact points for cultural exchange, as well as places for negotiation and diplomacy. Additionally, marches could serve as a buffer in times of tense political relations between nations or civilizations.
In contemporary usage, the term "marches" is still employed in some contexts to refer to specific regions or areas with historical or geographic characteristics reminiscent of the historical marches. However, its usage today is more commonly found in historical or academic discussions, as modern political boundaries and diplomatic relations have largely replaced the need for such fortified borderlands.
Borders of a country; frontiers.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "marches" originated from the Old French word "marche", which itself was derived from the Late Latin word "marca". In turn, "marca" was borrowed from the Frankish language, where it meant "boundary" or "frontier". The Frankish word was related to the Old High German word "marha" and Old English word "mearc", both of which also meant "boundary". The concept of the "marches" referred to borderlands or territories situated at the edges of a kingdom or region, often serving as a defensive buffer zone. Over time, the term "marches" expanded to include areas that were governed by hereditary lords with military responsibilities.