Esq.

Multiple Entries:
  Esq.    esquire  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
Esq.

▶abbreviation Esquire.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
esquire /ɪˈskwʌɪə, ɛ-/ (abbrev.: esq.)

▶noun

• 1 (Esquire) Brit. a polite title appended to a man's name when no other title is used, especially in a letter.

  ■ N. Amer. a title appended to a lawyer's surname.

• 2 historical a young nobleman who, in training for knighthood, acted as an attendant to a knight.

  ■ an officer in the service of a king or nobleman.

  ■ a landed proprietor or country squire.

– origin ME: from OFr. esquier, from L. scutarius ‘shield-bearer’, from scutum ‘shield’.