■ noun
1》 a country gentleman, especially the chief landowner in an area.
↘ US archaic a title given to a magistrate, lawyer, or judge in some rural districts.
2》 Brit. informal used as a friendly form of address by one man to another.
3》 historical a young nobleman acting as an attendant to a knight before becoming a knight himself.
■ verb (of a man) accompany or escort (a woman).
↘ dated (of a man) have a romantic relationship with (a woman).
Derivatives
~dom noun
~ship noun
Origin
ME: shortening of OFr. esquier 'e~'.