squire

American  

[skwahy^uhr] / skwaɪər /

noun

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

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

3. a personal attendant, as of a person of rank.

4. a man who accompanies or escorts a woman.

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

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verb (used with object)

squired, squiring

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

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

squire British  

/ skwaɪə /

noun

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

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

3. rare a man who courts or escorts a woman

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

5. an immature snapper See snapper

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• squireless
  adjective
• squirelike
  adjective
• unsquired
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of squire

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

Explanation

Squire is a British term for a country landowner or gentleman. You can use squire to describe a refined and powerful man, or as a verb meaning to escort: when the queen visited, the police chief squired her around town. You'll encounter squires in 19th-century English novels, and you'll need to understand who they are if you're going to get the subtle class distinctions that often drive the plots of these novels. During feudal times squires were young men who assisted knights. For their loyalty, they were given land, making them and their descendants rich and powerful. If you had land, you could live off the rent your tenant farmers paid, and you’d be free to be a gentleman.

Example Sentences

“But the party’s problems go beyond just that problem,” Squire explained.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

Squire and his team could see, from the type of light sockets and electrical outlets visible in the images, that Lucy was in North America.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Squire cites Lucy's case, which he tackled early in his career, as the inspiration for his long-term dedication.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Growing buzz around Shay has given him the chance to work with others too, including Jamie Squire, a regular touring member of the 1975 and the Strictly Come Dancing house band.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

By the time he was done, even Squire Dal-bridge was no longer smiling.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• attendant