abbreviation
1.
(becoming old-fashioned , especially BrE ) Esquire (a polite title written after a man's name, especially on an official letter addressed to him. If Esq. is used, Mr is not then used) :
Edward Smith, Esq.
2.
( NAmE ) used as a title after the name of a male or female lawyer
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French esquier , from Latin scutarius shield-bearer, from scutum shield; compare with squire . Sense 2 was the original denotation, sense 1 being at first a courtesy title given to such a person.