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Squire

//ˈskwaɪə// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname originating as an occupation.
Noun
  1. 1
    A shield-bearer or armor-bearer who attended a knight.

    "A Squire he had, whose name was Ralph[.]"

  2. 2
    A ruler; a carpenter's square; a measure. obsolete

    "But temperaunce, said he, with golden squire, / Betwixt them both can measure out a meane."

  3. 3
    an English country landowner wordnet
  4. 4
    A title of dignity next in degree below knight, and above gentleman. See esquire. error-lua-exec
  5. 5
    young nobleman attendant on a knight wordnet
Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    A male attendant on a great personage.
  2. 7
    a man who attends or escorts a woman wordnet
  3. 8
    A landowner from the English gentry during the early modern period. historical

    "Third Suitor was Young Country Squire, well born, Perſon indifferent, Cloaths (fondly worn)[.]"

  4. 9
    A devoted attendant or follower of a lady; a beau.
  5. 10
    A title of office and courtesy. See under esquire.
  6. 11
    A term of address to a male equal. UK, colloquial

    "Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of parrots."

  7. 12
    An Australian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), a food fish also found in eastern Asia.
  8. 13
    A grass emperor (Lethrinus laticaudis), of coral reefs of the western Pacific.
Verb
  1. 1
    To attend as a squire. transitive
  2. 2
    attend upon as a squire; serve as a squire wordnet
  3. 3
    To attend as a beau, or gallant, for aid and protection. transitive

    "[O]n ſome occaſions, he diſplayed all his fund of good humour, vvith a vievv to beguile her ſorrovv; he importuned her to give him the pleasure of ’ſquiring her to ſome place of innocent entertainment; and, finally, inſiſted upon her accepting a pecuniary reinforcement to her finances, vvhich he knevv to be in a moſt conſumptive condition."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English esquire, from Old French escuier, from Latin scūtārius (“shield-bearer”), from scūtum (“shield”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English esquire, from Old French escuier, from Latin scūtārius (“shield-bearer”), from scūtum (“shield”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English squire, borrowed from Middle French esquierre (“rule, carpenter's square”), or from Old French esquire, another form of esquarre (“square”). Cognate with French équerre. Doublet of square.

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