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squire

noun
/ˈskwaɪə/UK/ˈskwaɪɚ/US

Etymology

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.

  1. derived from scūtārius — “shield-bearer”
  2. derived from escuier
  3. derived from esquire

Definitions

  1. A shield-bearer or armor-bearer who attended a knight.

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

  2. A title of dignity next in degree below knight, and above gentleman. See esquire.

  3. A male attendant on a great personage.

  4. ›+ 11 more definitions

    1. A landowner from the English gentry during the early modern period.

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

    2. A devoted attendant or follower of a lady

      A devoted attendant or follower of a lady; a beau.

    3. A title of office and courtesy. See under esquire.

    4. A term of address to a male equal.

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

    5. An Australian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), a food fish also found in eastern Asia.

    6. A grass emperor (Lethrinus laticaudis), of coral reefs of the western Pacific.

    7. To attend as a squire.

    8. To attend as a beau, or gallant, for aid and protection.

      • Perceiving, however, that I had on my best wig, she offered, if I would ’squire her there, to send home the footman.
      • To man a lady was, in former times, a phrase similar to the vulgar one at present in use, to squire.

    9. A ruler

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

      • But temperaunce, said he, with golden squire, / Betwixt them both can measure out a meane.
      • do not you know my lady's foot by the squire.
      • as for a workman not to know his axe, saw, squire, or any other toole, […].

    10. A surname originating as an occupation.

    11. An unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for squire. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA