Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Marsh \Marsh\, n. [OE. mersch, AS. mersc, fr. mere lake. See
   {Mere} pool, and cf. {Marish}, {Morass}.]
   A tract of soft wet land, commonly covered partially or
   wholly with water; a fen; a swamp; a morass. [Written also
   {marish}.]

   {Marsh asphodel} (Bot.), a plant ({Nartheeium ossifragum})
      with linear equitant leaves, and a raceme of small white
      flowers; -- called also {bog asphodel}.

   {Marsh cinquefoil} (Bot.), a plant ({Potentilla palustris})
      having purple flowers, and found growing in marshy places;
      marsh five-finger.

   {Marsh elder}. (Bot.)
   (a) The guelder-rose or cranberry tree ({Viburnum Opulus}).
   (b) In the United States, a composite shrub growing in salt
       marshes ({Iva frutescens}).

   {Marsh five-finger}. (Bot.) See {Marsh cinquefoil} (above).
      

   {Marsh gas}. (Chem.) See under {Gas}.

   {Marsh grass} (Bot.), a genus ({Spartina}) of coarse grasses
      growing in marshes; -- called also {cord grass}. The tall
      {S. cynosuroides} is not good for hay unless cut very
      young. The low {S. juncea} is a common component of salt
      hay.

   {Marsh harrier} (Zo["o]l.), a European hawk or harrier
      ({Circus [ae]ruginosus}); -- called also {marsh hawk},
      {moor hawk}, {moor buzzard}, {puttock}.

   {Marsh hawk}. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) A hawk or harrier ({Circus cyaneus}), native of both
       America and Europe. The adults are bluish slate above,
       with a white rump. Called also {hen harrier}, and {mouse
       hawk}.
   (b) The marsh harrier.

   {Marsh hen} (Zo["o]l.), a rail; esp., {Rallus elegans} of
      fresh-water marshes, and {R. longirostris} of salt-water
      marshes.

   {Marsh mallow} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Alth[ae]a} ( {A.
      officinalis}) common in marshes near the seashore, and
      whose root is much used in medicine as a demulcent.

   {Marsh marigold}. (Bot.) See in the Vocabulary.

   {Marsh pennywort} (Bot.), any plant of the umbelliferous
      genus {Hydrocotyle}; low herbs with roundish leaves,
      growing in wet places; -- called also {water pennywort}.
      

   {Marsh quail} (Zo["o]l.), the meadow lark.

   {Marsh rosemary} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Statice} ({S.
      Limonium}), common in salt marshes. Its root is powerfully
      astringent, and is sometimes used in medicine. Called also
      {sea lavender}.

   {Marsh samphire} (Bot.), a plant ({Salicornia herbacea})
      found along seacoasts. See {Glasswort}.

   {Marsh St. John's-wort} (Bot.), an American herb ({Elodes
      Virginica}) with small opposite leaves and flesh-colored
      flowers.

   {Marsh tea}. (Bot.). Same as {Labrador tea}.

   {Marsh trefoil}. (Bot.) Same as {Buckbean}.

   {Marsh wren} (Zo["o]l.), any species of small American wrens
      of the genus {Cistothorus}, and allied genera. They
      chiefly inhabit salt marshes.