squire English · revision 1549

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing, clipping|attested=c. 1225}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈskwaɪə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈskwaɪɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|squier]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|esquier]], [[m|fro|escuier|t=squire, literally shield-bearer]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-lat|scūtārius|t=shield-bearer; guardsman]], from [[la|scūtum|t=shield]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Word Histories)^(MWU 2024) It is an aphetic form of [[esquire]], which appears later in English.^(RHWU)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966)^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A young man of good birth attending a knight (about 1225 in Barnhart; c. 1290 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By about 1300 the word also named a member of the landowning class ranking below a knight.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The verb, to escort or attend a lady as a squire, is recorded from the late 14th century;^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Chaucer uses it.^(Weekley 1921) The general sense “country gentleman, landed proprietor”, especially one who was also a local justice of the peace, dates from the 1670s.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) In the United States it became a title for a justice of the peace, lawyer or judge.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) As a familiar term of address to a man it is recorded from 1828,^(Etymonline)^(Cassell) and in Britain it is often ironic.^(Collins 2023) In Australia it names a young snapper.^(Collins 2023)^(Morris 1898) Derivatives include ''squirearchy'', rule by country gentlemen (1789), and the Irish ''squireen'', a petty squire.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1225 – a knight's attendant.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1300 – a landowner ranking below a knight.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1386 – verb, to escort a lady.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670s – a country gentleman.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1789 – ''squirearchy''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1828 – a term of address.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(historical)'' A young man of noble birth who served a [[knight]] as an attendant and shield-bearer, ranking next below a knight.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An English country gentleman, especially the chief landowner in a district.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A judge, [[justice of the peace]] or other local dignitary.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A man who attends or escorts a woman; a [[gallant]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal, chiefly British)'' A term of address used by one man to another.^(Collins 2023)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(Australia)'' A young [[snapper]] (fish).^(Collins 2023)^(Morris 1898)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To attend as a squire; to [[escort]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[squirish]]

+ * [[squireless]]

+ * [[squirelike]]

+ * [[squiredom]]

+ * [[squireling]]

+ * [[squirearchy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[esquire]]

+ * [[escutcheon]]

+ * [[page]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}