squire

[ skwahyuhr ]

noun

1. (in England) a country gentleman, especially the chief landed proprietor in a district.
2. (in the Middle Ages) a young man of noble birth who as an aspirant to knighthood served a knight.
3. a personal attendant, as of a person of rank.
4. a man who accompanies or escorts a woman.
5. a title applied to a justice of the peace, local judge, or other local dignitary of a rural district or small town.

verb (used with object)

, squired, squir·ing.

1. to attend as, or in the manner of, a squire.
2. to escort (a woman), as to a dance or social gathering.

squire

/ skwaɪə /

noun

1. a country gentleman in England, esp the main landowner in a rural community
2. feudal history a young man of noble birth, who attended upon a knight
3. rare.
   a man who courts or escorts a woman
4. informal.
   a term of address used by one man to another, esp, unless ironic, to a member of a higher social class
5. an immature snapper See snapper

verb

1. tr (of a man) to escort (a woman)

Other Words From

• squireless adjective
• squirelike adjective
• un·squired adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of squire¹

1250–1300; Middle English squier; aphetic variant of esquire

Word History and Origins

Origin of squire¹

C13: from Old French esquier ; see esquire

Example Sentences

Van Buren, meanwhile, aimed to portray Harrison, a Virginian, as an unsophisticated “country squire” who lived in a log cabin and drank hard cider, Kraig said.

From Los Angeles Times

Lorré, 28, is known as an ‘ecuyères’ — the French word for squire or horse rider, and has a vast knowledge of the royal stables’ history.

From Seattle Times

Hollywood executives were eager to set him up with starlets, whom Kissinger squired to premieres and showy restaurants, according to Isaacson.

From Seattle Times

The roughly 50-person bargaining unit includes knights, squires, stable hands and show cast members, including trumpet players and actors playing the queen, lord chancellor, lord marshal and Lord Cedric.

From Los Angeles Times

But despite being taken in by a kind squire growing up, Tom was never treated with any respect because of his illegitimate status.

From Salon