esquire(n.)
14世纪晚期,源自古法语 escuier “盾牌扛手(一位年轻人接受骑士训练的侍从),马夫”(现代法语 écuyer),源自中世纪拉丁语 scutarius “盾牌扛手,卫兵”(在古典拉丁语中,“盾牌制造者”),源自 scutum “盾牌”(参见 escutcheon)。对于 e- 的最初使用,参见 e-。参见 squire(n.)。最初是骑士之下的封建等级,16世纪意义扩大为对受过教育和专业人士的一般尊称,特别是在美国,被认为是律师的专属称号。
In our own dear title-bearing, democratic land, the title of esquire, officially and by courtesy, has come to include pretty much everybody. Of course everybody in office is an esquire, and all who have been in office enjoy and glory in the title. And what with a standing army of legislators, an elective and ever-changing magistracy, and almost a whole population of militia officers, present and past, all named as esquires in their commissions, the title is nearly universal. [N.Y. Commercial Advertiser newspaper, quoted in Bartlett, 1859]
在我们自己亲爱的、拥有头衔的、民主的国家中,官方和礼貌上的 esquire 头衔已经包括了几乎所有人。当然,所有在职人员都是 esquire,所有曾经在职的人都享有并以此为荣。由于立法者的常备军、选举和不断变化的行政官员,以及几乎所有的民兵军官,无论是现在还是过去,在他们的委任状中都被称为 esquires,因此这个头衔几乎是普遍的。[纽约商业广告报,引自巴特莱特,1859年]
该词起源时间:14世纪末