n. A pimp; a kept gallant. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. escuyer, escuier, properly, a shield-bearer, F. écuyer shield-bearer, armor-bearer, squire of a knight, esquire, equerry, rider, horseman, LL. scutarius shield-bearer, fr. L. scutum shield, akin to Gr. &unr_; skin, hide, from a root meaning to cover; prob. akin to E. hide to cover. See Hide to cover, and cf. Equerry, Escutcheon. ] Originally, a shield-bearer or armor-bearer, an attendant on a knight; in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below knight and above gentleman; also, a title of office and courtesy; -- often shortened to squire. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In England, the title of esquire belongs by right of birth to the eldest sons of knights and their eldest sons in perpetual succession; to the eldest sons of younger sons of peers and their eldest sons in perpetual succession. It is also given to sheriffs, to justices of the peace while in commission, to those who bear special office in the royal household, to counselors at law, bachelors of divinity, law, or physic, and to others. In the United States the title is commonly given in courtesy to lawyers and justices of the peace, and is often used in the superscription of letters instead of Mr. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Esquired p. pr. & vb. n. Esquiring. ] To wait on as an esquire or attendant in public; to attend. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Aphetic form of esquire. ] 1. A shield-bearer or armor-bearer who attended a knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A title of dignity next in degree below knight, and above gentleman. See Esquire. [ Eng. ] “His privy knights and squires.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A male attendant on a great personage; also (Colloq.), a devoted attendant or follower of a lady; a beau. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A title of office and courtesy. See under Esquire. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. squired p. pr. & vb. n. squiring. ] 1. To attend as a squire. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To attend as a beau, or gallant, for aid and protection; as, to squire a lady. [ Colloq. ] Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. esquierre, F. équerre. See Square, n. ] A square; a measure; a rule. [ Obs. ] “With golden squire.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is half squire and half farmer; -- used humorously. [ Eng. ] C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The rank or state of a squire; squireship. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A petty squire. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & adv. Becoming a squire; like a squire. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Squirehood. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + squire. ] To divest of the title or privilege of an esquire. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]