squire

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historically, a young nobleman who attended a knight before becoming a knight himself

   The squire carried his knight's shield and cared for his horse.

2. 2
   noun

   a country landowner or leading gentleman, especially in historical England

   The village squire owned most of the surrounding farmland.

3. 3
   verb

   to attend or escort someone in a courteous or protective manner

   He offered to squire his elderly aunt around the crowded exhibition.

Simplified etymology

Squire, recorded from Middle English, is essentially the same word as esquire. It comes from an Old French word meaning “shield bearer,” ultimately from Latin scutum, “shield,” and originally referred to a young man of gentle birth who attended a knight.

From Middle English squier, through Old French escuier, from Late Latin scutarius, "shield-bearer," based on Latin scutum, "shield." A squire first served a knight; the title later applied to members of the English landed gentry. Squire is a shortened doublet of esquire.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary