squire

[ skwahyuh r ]

/ skwaɪər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR squire ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(in England) a country gentleman, especially the chief landed proprietor in a district.

(in the Middle Ages) a young man of noble birth who as an aspirant to knighthood served a knight.

a personal attendant, as of a person of rank.

a man who accompanies or escorts a woman.

a title applied to a justice of the peace, local judge, or other local dignitary of a rural district or small town.

verb (used with object), squired, squir·ing.

to attend as, or in the manner of, a squire.

to escort (a woman), as to a dance or social gathering.

Nearby words

Origin of squire

1250–1300; Middle English squier; aphetic variant of esquire

Related formssquire·less, adjectivesquire·like, adjectiveun·squired, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for squire

Seemingly sad beyond consolation, the widow begs the squire to finish her off the same way.
Read This and Blush: Naughty Medieval French Tales|Yunte Huang|June 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Squire stood glumly hesitating, but with his eye on his son.
Elizabeth's Campaign|Mrs. Humphrey Ward
"Ride into the town and see if there is a letter for me," said the squire.
The World's Greatest Books, Vol VI.|Various
"Good-day to 'e, squire," he had said, and that was pleasant to hear.
Beyond The Rocks|Elinor Glyn

"Only a few men-at-arms, besides Sholto my squire, and my brother David," he made answer.
The Black Douglas|S. R. Crockett
When he and the Squire went indoors, we talked of the loss; Mrs. Todhetley thought it strangely unaccountable.
Johnny Ludlow, Sixth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for squire

squire

/ (skwaɪə) /

noun

a country gentleman in England, esp the main landowner in a rural community

feudal history a young man of noble birth, who attended upon a knight

rare a man who courts or escorts a woman

informal, mainly British a term of address used by one man to another, esp, unless ironic, to a member of a higher social class

Australian an immature snapperSee snapper (def. 2)

verb

(tr) (of a man) to escort (a woman)

Word Origin for squire

C13: from Old French esquier; see esquire

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for squire

squire

late 13c., "young man who attends a knight," later "member of the landowning class ranking below a knight" (c.1300), from Old French esquier "squire," literally "shield carrier" (see esquire). Meaning "country gentleman, landed proprietor" is from 1670s; as a general term of address to a gentleman, it is attested from 1828.

squire

"to attend (a lady) as a gallant," late 14c., from squire (n.). Related: Squired; squiring.

squire

noun

verb (used with object), squired, squir·ing.

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Origin of squire

Examples from the Web for squire

squire

noun

verb

Word Origin for squire

squire

squire