Market Street. The site of an ancient market on which at a later period the annual May Fair was held. This district is now one of the most fashionable in the West End of London.
Mark Lane. A corruption of “Mart Lane,” in which an ancient annual fair or mart of Flemish merchants was held.
Mark Twain. The literary pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, reminiscent of his early life as a pilot on a Mississippi steamboat. “Mark Twain” in nautical phraseology means “mark two fathoms of water.”
Marlborough House. This, the residence of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, was built by Sir Christopher Wren for John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, in 1709 at a total cost of a million of money.
Marlborough Road. This, like the square of the same name off the Fulham Road, was so called after the “Duke of Marlborough” at one end of it. At Peckham, after the one-time residence of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, before he removed to Pall Mall.
Maroons. Revolted Negroes in South America and the West Indies. The term was derived from the Morony River, between Dutch and French Guiana, where great numbers of these fugitives found a place of safety.
Marquee. Originally the tent of a marchioness.
Marquis. From the Italian and French Marchese, pursuant to the root mark, a boundary. Anciently expressive of an officer who had the guardianship of the marches or boundaries of a duchy. At a later period the owner of a slice of land bestowed upon him out of a duchy. Nowadays the title next below that of duke.
Marquis of Granby. A tavern sign in honour of John Manners, the British general during the Seven Years’ War in Germany, a soldier beloved by his men and esteemed by his country.
Marry. A perverted form of the oath “By Mary” in days when people were wont to swear by the Virgin.