[ ɪ'skwʌɪə , ɛ- ]
(abbrev.: esq. )
■ noun
1》 ( Esquire ) Brit. a polite title appended to a man's name when no other title is used, especially in a letter.
↘ N. Amer. a title appended to a lawyer's surname.
2》 historical a young nobleman who, in training for knighthood, acted as an attendant to a knight.
↘an officer in the service of a king or nobleman.
↘a landed proprietor or country squire.
Origin
ME: from OFr. esquier , from L. scutarius 'shield-bearer', from scutum 'shield'.