squire

   From the seventeenth century until the late nineteenth century ‘squire’ was used to address country gentlemen who were considerable land-owners. The word was used alone, or with a family name.

   Earlier meanings of squire, such as ‘young man of noble birth attendant on a knight’, had become historical by the time the above-mentioned vocative usage began. In modern times ‘squire’ is used much more rarely in third person reference, and would sound old-fashioned if used in direct address, if used, that is, to a person who really could be described as a country squire.

   The word is regularly used today in a vaguely humorous way, by, e.g., market traders addressing male customers. It avoids in such a situation the cold politeness of ‘sir’ and the perhaps overfamiliarity of ‘mate’.

   In Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, Mr Sleary addresses Mr Gradgrind as ‘squire’, or attempts to, at least: ‘“Thquire!” said Mr Sleary, who was troubled with asthma, and whose breath came far too thick and heavy for the letter s, “your thervant!”’ In Judgement Day, by Penelope Lively, a young electrician says to a vicar: ‘O.K., squire, not to worry.’

   Some commentators consider this modern British use of ‘squire’ to be friendly. There is reason to suspect, however, that it is a little contemptuous. The speaker will often be using it to a man whom he considers to be middle-class, perhaps because of the person’s speech or clothes. The deliberate misuse of the vocative system shows that the speaker is not prepared to be genuinely deferential. In Jake’s Thing, by Kingsley Amis, a barely polite shop assistant eventually asks a customer who has queried the price of chocolates: ‘You want them, do you, squire?’ The whole tone of the conversation makes it clear that he cares very little whether the customer wants them or not. Up the City Road, by John Stroud, has a young Londoner addressing his landlord as ‘squire’, and again his tone is not friendly. ‘Look, squire, I’m paying the hell of a lot for not very much.’