squire

name

1. A surname originating as an occupation.
2. An unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English squire, borrowed from Middle French esquierre (“rule, carpenter's square”), or from Old French esquire, another form of esquarre (“square”). Cognate with French équerre. Doublet of square.

1. A ruler; a carpenter's square; a measure.

   “But temperaunce, said he, with golden squire, / Betwixt them both can measure out a meane.”

   “do not you know my lady's foot by the squire.”

verb

Etymology: From Middle English esquire, from Old French escuier, from Latin scūtārius (“shield-bearer”), from scūtum (“shield”).

1. To attend as a squire.
2. To attend as a beau, or gallant, for aid and protection.

   “[O]n ſome occaſions, he diſplayed all his fund of good humour, vvith a vievv to beguile her ſorrovv; he importuned her to give him the pleasure of ’ſquiring her to ſome place of innocent entertainment; and, finally, inſiſted upon her accepting a pecuniary reinforcement to her finances, vvhich he knevv to be in a moſt conſumptive condition.”

   “Perceiving, however, that I had on my best wig, she offered, if I would ’squire her there, to send home the footman.”