squire

[ skwahyuhr ]

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.

verb (used with object)

, squired, squir·ing.

1. to attend as, or in the manner of, a squire.
2. to escort (a woman), as to a dance or social gathering.

squire

/ 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. See snapper
   an immature snapper See snapper

verb

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

Other Words From

• squireless adjective
• squirelike adjective
• un·squired adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of squire¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of squire¹

C13: from Old French esquier ; see esquire

Example Sentences

Others more comparable to Squire include Boulevard, which helps salons with bookings and payments and which recently raised $27 million.

From Fortune

Brienne of Tarth is back on the road—a far more worldly and intimidating figure than her hapless male squire, Podrick Payne.

From The Daily Beast

Seemingly sad beyond consolation, the widow begs the squire to finish her off the same way.

From The Daily Beast

Another California undergrad, Andrew Squire, has taken a different approach to selling pot to raise cash.

From The Daily Beast

Samuel Squire, bishop of St. David's died; a poetical, historical and antiquarian writer of note.

From Project Gutenberg

"I fear, squire, hers is not a bodily affection," said Mrs. Dodd with a deep sigh.

From Project Gutenberg

Not one word did Mrs. Dodd utter for many days to her husband of her momentous conversation with the squire.

From Project Gutenberg

A country squire introduced his baboon, in clerical habits, to say grace.

From Project Gutenberg

Sir Herbert's squire, Thomas du Bois, joined in his master's confident wager.

From Project Gutenberg