Forms: 5–7 esquier, -yer, (5 esqwyer, 6 esquior, -yor, 6–7 escuir, -ier), 6– esquire. [a. OF. esquier (mod.F. écuyer), corresp. to Pr. escuier, escudier, escuder, Sp. escudero, Pg. escudeiro, It. scudiere, lit. ‘shield-bearer’:—L. scūtārius, f. scūtum shield. See also SQUIRE, which in our quotations appears much earlier.
In Fr. the use of the word has been influenced by a mistaken association with écurie (OF. escurie), see EQUERRY. Some traces of this confusion appear in English use.
1. a. Chivalry. A young man of gentle birth, who as an aspirant to knighthood, attended upon a knight, carried his shield, and rendered him other services. (Now only arch., the form SQUIRE being commonly used Hist.) Cf. ARMIGER, PAGE.
1475. Caxton, Jason. Ther ne abode knight ne esquyer in the sadyl.
1601. F. Tate, Househ. Ord. Edw. II., § 1 (1876), 6. If he be but an ordinari knight, he shal … have diet … for two esquiers.
1656. Cowley, Davideis, IV. 849. This saw, and heard with joy the brave Esquire … fill’d with his Masters fire.
1852. Miss Yonge, Cameos, II. xviii. 193. Hard work the good esquire seems to have had.
† b. As a rendering of L. armiger armor-bearer, Gr. ὑπασπιστής shield-bearer. Obs.
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius (1570), 172 (R.). Alexander not only graunted, but willed a weapon to be deliuered to hys hands, as other esquiers vsed.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 427. His [Epaminondas’] esquire or shield-bearer had received a good piece of money for the ransome of a prisoner.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Macc. iv. 30. Jonathas Sauls sonne, and his esquyer.
c. Applied to various officers in the service of a king or nobleman, as esquire for (or of) the body, esquire of the chamber, esquire of the stable [cf. EQUERRY, which was sometimes confused with this], carving esquire, etc.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 32 § 7. David Philippe, Esquyer for the body of oure Sovereign Lord the Kyng.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1381/2. Chiefe escuir of the kings escuir, and the other escuires of the escuir togither.
1601. F. Tate, Househ. Ord. Edw. II., § 26 (1876), 18. The kinge shall have … an esquier to carve before the kinge.
2. A man belonging to the higher order of English gentry, ranking immediately below a knight.
Of esquires, legally so called, there are, according to some authorities, five classes: ‘(1) younger sons of peers and their eldest sons; (2) eldest sons of knights, and their eldest sons; (3) chiefs of ancient families (by prescription); (4) esquires by creation or office, as heralds and sergeants of arms, judges, officers of state, naval and military officers, justices of the peace, barristers-at-law; (5) esquires who attend the Knight of the Bath on his installation—usually two specially appointed’ (Encycl. Brit., s.v.). The correctness of this enumeration, however, is greatly disputed; it would be impossible here to state the divergent views on the subject. In heraldic Latin the equivalent of esquire was armiger, properly = ‘armor-bearer,’ but often taken in the sense ‘one bearing (heraldic) arms’; hence, in 16th and 17th c. esquire was sometimes explained as meaning a man entitled to coat-armor; but by accurate writers this is condemned as involving the confusion between ‘esquire’ and ‘gentleman.’
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 40–1. His Highness schal then have … aboute his Persone … Lords, Knights, and Esquyers.
1535. Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 27. A jurie of esquiers and gentlemen of Middlesex were sworne to passe on them.
1577. Harrison, England, II. v. (1877), I. 127. Esquire (which we call commonlie Squire) is a French word … and such are all those which beare armes … testimonies of their race.
1793. Blackstone, Comm., I. ix. (ed. 12), 352. The statute 13 Ric. II. c. 7 orders them [justices of the peace] to be of the most sufficient knights, esquires, and gentlemen of the law.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 265. The second sort of persons were those who had titles, as esquires [etc.].
b. A landed proprietor, (country) ‘squire.’ arch.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 63. I am Robert Shallow (Sir) a poore Esquire of this Countie, and one of the Kings Iustices of the Peace.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, I. xii. 77. There was, indeed, a motley congregation; country esquires; extracts from the Universities; half-pay officers; [etc.].
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. (L.). An esquire passed among his neighbours for a great scholar, if [etc.].
3. As a title accompanying a man’s name. Originally applied to those who were ‘esquires’ in sense 2; subsequently extended to other persons to whom an equivalent degree of rank or status is by courtesy attributed.
a. Following the surname preceded by the Christian name. In formal documents written in full; elsewhere commonly abbreviated Esq. or Esqr. (In ceremonious use, e.g., in legal writings or in genealogy, when the name of the person’s estate or of his place of residence is given, the title is, by English custom, placed last, as ‘A.B., of C., Esquire’; in Scotland, on the contrary, the title immediately follows the surname. Similarly, in England the title ‘esquire’ follows the designation ‘Junior’ or ‘The Younger,’ but in Scotland precedes it.)
The designation of ‘esquire’ is now commonly understood to be due by courtesy to all persons (not in clerical orders or having any higher title of rank) who are regarded as ‘gentlemen’ by birth, position or education. It is used only on occasions of more or less ceremonious mention, and in the addresses of letters, etc.; on other occasions the prefix ‘Mr.’ is employed instead. When ‘esquire’ is appended to a name, no prefixed title (such as ‘Mr.,’ ‘Doctor,’ ‘Captain,’ etc.) is used. In the U. S. the title belongs officially to lawyers and public officers, and is much less frequently employed than in the British dominions.
1552–3. Inv. Ch. Goods, Staffs., in Ann. Litchfield, IV. 46. Walter Wrotcheley & Edward Lyttylton, esquyors, by vertue of the kynges majesties comyssion.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. viii. 109. Dauy Gam Esquire.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. vi. § 2. Anthony Brown at Tolethorp in Rutland Esquire.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 19, ¶ 2. If you read the superscriptions to all the offices in the kingdom, you will not find three letters directed to any but esquires.
1711. Budgell, Spect., No. 150, ¶ 7. My Banker … writes me Mr. or Esq.; accordingly as he sees me dressed.
1711. Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), III. 111. I shall be glad to know … whether he be Esqr. that I may give him his true Title when I reprint the List.
1867. Miss Mulock, Two Marriages, I. 42. ‘Jane, wife of Mr. John Bowerbank’ (he was not Esquire then).
1887. Scott. Leader, 12 May, 6. The Clerk said that some letters were addressed Esquire and some not.
† b. Preceding the surname. Obs. (Cf. the similar use of SQUIRE.)
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4761/4. Stolen … out of Esquire Chester’s Stables … a … Horse.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1755), 1. His cousin esquire South.
1730. Southall, Buggs, 17. Esquire [ed. 2 (1793) Mr.] Pitfield and Mr. White.
4. [transf. use of 1.] A gentleman who attends or escorts a lady in public. Cf. SQUIRE.
1824. Byron, Juan, XVI. ci. Their docile esquires also did the same.
1875. W. S. Hayward, Love agst. World, 13. ‘Come on, my brave esquire,’ said Florence.
5. Comb. Only appositive; chiefly in sense 1 c. Also Esquire Bedel: see BEADLE 3.
c. 1600. Epitaph, in Strype, Stow’s Surv. (1754), I. III. i. 535/1. Esquire-Joyner to our Queen.
1601. F. Tate, Househ. Ord. Edw. II., § 14 (1876), 13. This esquier fruiterer shal take every night for his coch, a galon of beare.
1797. T. Johnes, trans. La Brocquière’s Trav. (1807), 48. Among them was his [duke Philippe le bon’s] first esquire-carver, named la Brocquière.
