I. ˈeˌskwī(ə)r, ə̇ˈs-, eˈs-, -īə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English esquire, esquier, squier, from Middle French escuier, esquier shield bearer, squire, from Late Latin scutarius, from Latin scutum shield + -arius -ary; akin to Old High German sceida sheath — more at sheath
1. : a member of the English gentry ranking immediately below a knight
2.
a. archaic : squire 1
b. : a candidate for knighthood serving as shield bearer to and attendant upon a knight
c. : an attendant upon a king or nobleman in one of several usually specified offices
esquire of the stable
esquire for the body
3. — used as a title of courtesy that is usually placed in its abbreviated form after the surname in written address and that is infrequent and of no precise significance in the United States except as sometimes applied to certain public officials (as justices of the peace) but that is applied in British usage to anyone (except a member of the nobility or clergy) considered to have the social position of a gentleman; abbr. Esq.
4. archaic : a landed proprietor
II. transitive verb
Etymology: esquire (I)
1. archaic : to attend as an esquire
2. : to accompany or escort in public
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French esquire, esquierre, esquerre square, carpenter's square — more at square
1. also esquire based : base esquire
2. : gyron ; also : a charge resembling a gyron