squire

/ˈskwaɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈskwaɪər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈskwī(-ə)r/ (ame, mw) · /skwaɪər/ (bre, ipa) · /skwaɪr/ (ame, ipa)

squire — noun

  • squiresingular
  • squiresplural

1. a man of the English landed gentry in earlier centuries, who owned the principal

1.名詞B2
釋義

a man of the English landed gentry in earlier centuries, who owned the principal house and farmland of a country district and held informal local authority there

例句

Squire Edmund Ashworth owned every field and cottage for three miles around.

collocation: country squire who owns a rural estate

The villagers tipped their hats whenever the old squire rode through the lane.

同義詞
  • landowner

    neutral, modern term with no implication of social rank or historical period

  • lord of the manor

    more formal and legalistic; implies specific manorial rights

  • gentleman farmer

    less emphasis on status; often implies hands-on farming

用法筆記

Historical term specific to the English class system before the 20th century. Refers to a major landowner with local social standing, not to the modern legal concept of a property owner.

常見錯誤

❌The squire was a nobleman with a title.
✅The squire was a major landowner, but he did not hold a formal title of nobility.
💡Squires belonged to the gentry, not the aristocracy; they ranked below knights and baronets.

2. a warm, old-fashioned way for one man to greet another, especially when the spea

2.名詞C1
釋義

a warm, old-fashioned way for one man to greet another, especially when the speaker treats the other as a superior or equal in a respectful, familiar tone

例句

'Evening, squire,' called the barman as Nikolai walked through the pub door.

British informal: friendly address from a barman to a customer

An elderly cab driver greeted Hassan with a cheerful 'Where to, squire?'

同義詞
  • mate

    far more common and casual in modern British English; no implication of deference

  • guv'nor

    similar British informal register but carries stronger implication of deference to a superior

用法筆記

Almost exclusively British and increasingly dated. Most often heard in pubs, markets, or from older speakers addressing a man they do not know well. Not used between women or when a woman addresses a man.

常見錯誤

❌She greeted him with a warm "Hello, squire!
✅A man might greet another man with "Evening, squire!
💡This form of address is used between men, not by a woman to a man.

3. in the Middle Ages, a young nobleman who trained under a knight, carrying his sh

3.名詞B2
釋義

in the Middle Ages, a young nobleman who trained under a knight, carrying his shield and armour while learning the combat skills and courtly manners needed to become a knight himself

例句

The knight's squire polished every link of chain mail before the tournament began.

collocation: knight's squire — attendant to a specific knight

Young William served as squire to Sir Owain, tending his armour and horses daily.

同義詞
  • page

    a younger boy at an earlier stage of knightly training, below a squire in rank

  • armour-bearer

    narrower term focusing only on the equipment-carrying duty, without the training aspect

用法筆記

Distinguish from noun/1 (COUNTRY LANDOWNER): a medieval squire was a young trainee serving a knight, not a landowner. The landowning squire belongs to a later historical period, roughly the 16th to 19th centuries.

常見錯誤

❌The squire cleaned the knight's boots like a common servant.
✅The squire was a young nobleman who looked after the knight's equipment while training to become a knight.
💡A medieval squire was a trainee of noble birth, not a low-ranking servant.
❌The squire owned a large castle and ruled the village.
✅The squire was a young attendant to a knight.
💡Do not confuse the medieval knight's attendant (this sense) with the later country landowner (noun/1).

4. a man who accompanies a woman with attentive, old-fashioned politeness, acting a

4.名詞C1
釋義

a man who accompanies a woman with attentive, old-fashioned politeness, acting as her protector or devoted admirer in social settings

例句

At the ball, Ingrid's squire fetched her punch and made sure she never stood alone.

literary usage: a man attending a woman at a social event

Amara laughed and called Diego her faithful squire after he carried all her shopping bags.

同義詞
  • gallant

    emphasises romantic devotion and dashing bravery more strongly

  • escort

    neutral, modern term with no implication of old-fashioned chivalry

  • cavalier

    more dashing and literary; often implies a slightly reckless charm

用法筆記

Literary or humorous in modern usage. Most often found in romantic fiction or used playfully to describe a man being especially attentive to a woman. Less common in everyday speech.

squire — verb