equerry

[ ek-wuh-ree, ih-kwer-ee ]

noun

, plural eq·uer·ries.

1. an officer of a royal or similar household, charged with the care of the horses.
2. an officer of the British royal household who attends the sovereign or other member of the royal family.

equerry

/ ɪˈkwɛrɪ; ˈɛkwərɪ /

noun

1. an officer attendant upon the British sovereign
2. (formerly) an officer in a royal household responsible for the horses

Word History and Origins

Origin of equerry¹

1520–30; alteration (influenced by Latin equus horse) of earlier esquiry, escuirie < Middle French escuirie stable, squires collectively, derivative of escuyer squire; -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of equerry¹

C16: alteration (through influence of Latin equus horse) of earlier escuirie, from Old French: stable, group of squires, from escuyer squire

Example Sentences

An equerry is traditionally a military officer who acts as a royal assistant.

From Washington Post

Timothy Laurence, her lover and a former equerry to the queen.

From New York Times

She was greeted by King Charles's equerry, Lt Col Johnny Thompson, before handing in her resignation to the monarch.

From BBC

She queries the equerries; she tracks down former nannies and ladies-in-waiting.

From New York Times

Her team wants to depose Robert Ashton Olney, the prince's former royal assistant known as an equerry.

From Fox News

Related Words

• servant