Middle English Dictionary Entry
squier n.
Entry Info
| Forms | squier n. Also squiere, squiar(e, squiȝer, squire, sqier, squiēr, squēr, skuiere, skwier, scwier, skier(e, schwier, (N) scoier & swier(e, suier, swiar, swir(e, sweier & (in surnames) scuir, scuer, scuiuar; pl. squieres, etc. & squeieres, sueieris, (in comb.) squiern-. |
| Etymology | From OF escuier, esquier, eskuwier, eschuier, AF esqier; also cp. AL squierius, esquierus, esquirius. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. esquier n.
1.
(a) An aspirant to knighthood in the feudal military system; an esquire or a personal servant attendant upon a knight; a soldier below the rank of knight; also fig.; also, a person holding an analogous rank in classical society; (b) ~ and knight, knight and ~, knightes and squier(es, ~ ne knight, etc.; be he ~ be he knight; (c) a shieldbearer of Biblical times; also, an Egyptian soldier [2nd quot.].
Associated quotations
a
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)139 : Thomas de boys þe scwyer wes to nome.
- a1350 Flem.Insur.(Hrl 2253)75 : Fyftene hundred knyhtes proude & swyþe bolde, sixti þousent swyers among ȝunge ant olde, flemmisshe to take.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2156 : Vter Pendragon cam fram þe fiȝt; Doukes, kinges, and barouns, Orped squiers and garsouns Hom went to her in.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8256 : Þe squiers were armed and on hem dast, And..slowen michel heþen genge.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.79 : A knyght ther was..With hym ther was his sone, a yong squyer [vr. swiere].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3300 : He had..fourty þousande kniȝttes souders; Noot Ich no tale of his squyers [LinI: swyers], Ne of vavasoures ne of bachilers.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6012 : Þe kynges oost..amounted fyue hundreþ þousynde Kniȝttes to armes..Wiþouten pages and squyers [LinI: skuyeris].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4222 : His hors from hym also he cauȝte, And to his squier manfully it rauȝte.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)86 : Þan sayd þe knyght..'Sqwyare, sen þou was a childe Þou hase bene aye wyth mee.'
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12184 : Sire Caye & Beduer..ilk of þeym tok a squyer.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)15/24 : God is as oure good Lord, & we his swyers & his sowdyours.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)194 : One þat other syde are..Bolde sqwyeres of blode.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)342/28 : Þis knyght ansswerd to his sweyers.
- 1457 Libeaus (Naples 13.B.29)282/1638 : Two squyars rode bi his side; iii scheftis thei bare that tide.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)102/11 : I am but youre squyre, and whan I am made knyght I woll be avenged on hym.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)862 : Hys squyer gan lede Be-fore hym vp-on a stede Þre schaftes.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)212 : Launfal dyȝte hys courser Withoute knaue oþer squyer.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)191 : Thei were wele armed and hadde on hattes of stile as squyres vsed in tho dayes.
b
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)65/1111 : On horn he bar anhonde..Kniȝtes & squier [vrr. To knyt and to squiere; to knyht & skyere] Alle dronken of þe ber.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7801 : He let gadery is kniȝtes & is squiers al so.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1643 : He busked him al so swiþe, Boþe squier and kniȝt.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)9/86 : Þe tvo maidens..told boþe squier & kniȝt Þat her quen awede wold.
- ?c1350 Ballad Sc.Wars (Jul A.5)145 : Knyth and scoyer bathe sal deye.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2502 : Knyghtes of retenue and eek squyers Naylynge the speres, [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.254 : Bot be he squier, be he knyht..The more he lest of that he suieth, The mor me thenketh that I winne.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2836 : Þe quyke ȝede to þe swerde, Kniȝth and squyȝer wiþ her lorde.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)3276 : Sho might noght out by day ne night To speke with swier ne with knight.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1494 : Goffar was kyng of Peyters; He sente knyghtes & squiers To waite who made on hym pres.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)19.21 : Thanne Fonde sche Alle the knyhtes & Sqwiere, In that Same Manere they lyen tho there.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)3089 : Too the Citee rideth Generides With knyghtes and with Sqyers many on.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)9/34 : He had Purveyed hym of xxxti knyghtes and lx Squyeris [Dub: skyers].
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Par.10.4 : Saul seide to his squyer [L armigerum], 'drawȝ out þi swerd & sle me.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6279 : King ne knight, suier ne suain, O þam come neuer a fote again.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7717 : Þe squier hight abysai þat to þe tent com wit daui.
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)4066 : Abymalech..Saide thus til his sqwyere..'Out with thi swerde..and slee me hastily.'
2.
(a) A member of the landowning class next below the rank of knight; the son of a knight; also, a young man of gentle birth; ~ man; (b) as a title after a name; (c) used contemptuously: a fellow.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3878 : Boþe kinges & dukes & erles echon, Barons & kniȝtes & squiers [vr. squeers] monyon..& ech mon þat aȝt were..were alle þere.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)30.288/28 : Whon þou þe ȝonge squiȝer bi held, þou held þi nese.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1543 : Thus kan a squyer doon a gentil dede As wel as kan a knyght.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.128 : Of Gascoyne þe seignorie bowed vnto his scheld; Ilk a knyght & squiere, clerkes were to him suorn.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)11.266 : Ther nys squier ne knyght in contreye a-boute That he nel bowe to þat bonde to bede hure an hosebonde.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)48/17 : Þer þou schalt fynde none proude squyers wiþ baudrikes, gurdelis, lacis, colers abouten þe neckes.
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)152 : Alle men of nobley, fro kyngis unto squyeers, synne in þis covetise ouþer more or lesse.
- (1414) RParl.4.58b : The freest Knyght or Squyer of the Rewme..may be put in prison.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)471 : Sqwyar, gentylmann [KC: sqwyer man; Phil: sqvyȝer]: Armiger, scutifer.
- (1442) RParl.5.59b : Knyghtes and worthy Swyers of the West.
- a1450 Dux Moraud (BodPoet f.2)4 : Bachelerys and knytys to mende, Sueyerys and ȝemen to holde, Knauys and pagys to sende.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)179 : Here brynge I in a storye to me lente That a goode squyere in tyme of parlemente Toke unto me well wrytene in a scrowe.
- (a1452) Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)365 : John Cade..wedded a Squiers dowghter of Taundede.
- (1452) Paston (EETS)1.149 : He harde sey of j swyre of ij cc marc be ȝere þat ȝe and Master Thomas Wellys wolde sewe þe seyd parsone.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)180/8 : In þis tyme was take þe ylde of Constantyn..be a swyere þei clepid Thomas Karington.
- a1475 The boris hede (Brog 2.1)p.93 : Lordys, knyghttus, and skyers, Persons, prystis, and wycars.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.61.42a : As for þis mede, it schal fallen þat sum worldi man..as a..knyȝt ore skuiere..schal haue more mede þan sum prest ore frere.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.276 : Þer deyyth a pope, þer a kyng, þer a prynce, þer a dwc, þer a buschop, þer a kynȝt, þer a sqweer.
- a1500 Apoc.(2) (Magd-C F.4.5)81/6 : For þis ende emperours, kinges, lordes, knyȝtes, squyeres, & comynes wisely & discretly..trauel to bringe hit þus abowte.
- a1525(?1421) Cov.Leet Bk.29 : We commaund þat every hosteler warn hur geestys that they leve hur wepons within hur Innes, but if he be a knyght or a Squyer that may haue a swerd born aftur hym.
b
- (1382) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.456 : [Walter Bigood,] Squyer.
- (1415) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)45 : Y Edward Cheyne, sqwier, son of Sr. John Cheyne of Bedford, knyght.
- (1429-30) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.80 : Richard ffayrfax..Thomas fulthorp of Barnacastell, and Thomas Kyllum, schwyers.
- (1430) Doc.Merchant York in Sur.Soc.12935 : Thomas Haseley, squire and clerc of the Kynges coroune.
- (1438) Will Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.4327 : Myles Stapulton, swyr, my sone.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.138/21 : John Wilcotys, squier.
- (1470) Paston (EETS)1.562 : John Paston, sqvyer, son of John Paston, sqwyer.
- (1476) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8535 : Rycherd Salkeld, sqwyer, Thomas Becham, sqwyer, John Aglanby, gentilman.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4507 : Bary [read: Bacy] he was brayne-wode for bebbing of wynes, Forþi [þe] swire & þe swalow þat swiere he kepis.
3.
(a) A household attendant or servant; a retainer, follower; a page; also, a messenger; -- also coll.; (b) an officer of the English royal household attendant on the king; ~ for the (kinges) bodi, ~ for his (oure) bodi, ~ of the bodi; ~ in confidence; ~ of attendaunce; (c) a companion, follower; -- also used of a young hart that is subservient to an older hart; (d) squiern chaumbre, ?a room or residence for attendants or retainers.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)21/360 : Send him..On a squieres [vr. skuyeres] wise, To wude for to pleie.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)87 : Þe skwier..ladde him in to þe halle.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1440 : Theseus hath taken hym so ner That of his chambre he made hym a squier.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4670 : Ioseph thoght wel on his mister, Did gader sariantz and squier [Trin-C: squyere; Frf: squyeris] To gedir wrightes, far and nere.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Curates (Corp-C 296)148 : Þei [curates] passen grete men in here gaye pellure & precious cloþis & wast festis & tatrid squeyeres & oþere meyne.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)34/36 : Sche was set to mete wyth many worthy clerkys & prestys & swyers of þe Bysshoppys.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)941 : I and my maydyns went to playe By þe syde of the see; The wynd was lythe, a bote þer stode; I and my sqwyere thedir in we ȝode.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1184 : Þe bischop..Gase him..to þe swiars & þam his sware ȝeldis.
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)324/15 : Ipomedon..was the fairest childe..and had a squiere with him, which was his maistre and had the governance of him.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)76/5 : A swier of þe emperoures had in comaundment to kille þis pope as he stod at messe.
b
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2181 : Our trusty &c. squier for our body Edward Hull is commyn unto us oute of our Duchie of Guienne.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.223 : Squiers for þe body: John Norys, John Say, John Penycok, John Stanley.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.224 : Squiers of attendaunce: John Warner, Humfrey Salwey, [etc.].
- (1464) Let.Ormond in Fortescue Works26 : The grete favoure whiche he shewyde unto William Josep, squier for the kynges body.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)23 : Of Knights to serve the King..one messe..Squires for the body..one messe.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)32 : This chamberlayn..to assigne..for the basyn squires of the body to be attendaunt.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)921 : A squyer for the body of kyng Edwarde, whose name was Thomas herbarde.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)929 : Deluys was squyere in confidence with kinge Edward, ofte in his presence.
- a1525(1470) Rebell.Lin.(ArmsV 435)10 : The king..sent from Stanford towarde theym John Down, oon of the swiers for his body.
c
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)16 : Somtyme a greet hert hath a noþer felawe that is called his squiere, for he is withe hym, which done as he wil.
- c1450 How mankinde dooþ (Lamb 853)95 : Giterne þere may y leere..And be to bemond A good squyer Al nyȝt til þe day do dawe.
d
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.72 : [Thomas West, knight, committed waste..in a chamber called] squyernchambre.
4.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1100-1130) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames330 : Alword se Scuir.
- (c1180) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames330 : William Scuer.
- (1208) Fine R.King John463 : Johannes le Squier.
- (1246) Select Pleas Manor.in Seld.Soc.26 : Per Johannem Squier.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 16141 : Joh. Swyer.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3277 : Johannes Scuyuar.