Es-quire'1, n.
n. [O. Fr. escuyer, escuier, esquier, a title obtained by youth at the age of fourteen, and which gave them the privilege of wearing a sword; N. Fr. écuyer, shield-bearer, armor-bearer, squire of a knight, esquire, equerry, rider, horseman, from escu, écu, shield; Pr. escudier, escuder, escuier, scudier, Sp. escudero, Pg. escudeiro, It. scudiere. See ESCUTCHEON.] A shield-bearer or armor-bearer, an attendant on a knight; hence, in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below a knight.
☞ In England, this title is given to the younger sons of noblemen, to officers of the king’s courts and of the household, to counselors at law, justices of the peace while in commission, sheriffs, and other gentlemen. In the United States, the title is given to public officers of all degrees, and has become a general title of respect in addressing letters.