This article is about the heraldic charge Esquire. For the heraldic charge Esquarre, see
Esquarre (heraldry).
Anglophone heraldry charge
Esquire as ordinaryBase esquire, after Robson (1830)[1]
The Esquire is a heraldic charge that is classed as a
subordinary in Anglophone heraldry.[2] Its form is defined as resembling the
Gyron, as formed of a right triangle; but, with the difference that whereas the
Gyron extends from the outer edge of the field to the center, the Esquire extends across the whole of the field, from one edge to its opposite.[3]
The Base (or Baste) Esquire is a variant of the esquire where the right angle is positioned at the lower edge.[4] Each variant is equivalent to the shape given when a square or other quadrilateral is partitioned diagonally. Some
vexillologists have dubbed this charge the
Triangular panel.[5]
Heraldic writers have used the term esquire to describe not only a field-spanning Ordinary-like charge but more diminutive examples as well.[6] The "chief examples” of the esquire for some writers are the
Arms of Mortimer.[7] When blazoning these arms, esquire is used to describe the treatment of the corners of the
bordurecomponée. Other heraldists have blazoned these as “
gyronny”, and some writers consider the introduction of the term esquire unhelpful, favoring the term gyron instead.[8] Writers who have favored the introduction of the term esquire stress, apparently, that the triangular charge extends across the length of the bordure, rather than to its center.
Etymology and relation to other charges
The etymology of the term Esquire reveals the relation between the form of the charge and its name, and the relation between the charge and other charges. In form, the Esquire resembles the triangular variant of the implement used by carpenters, engineers, or mathematicians to measure or set right angles, but one plein (full or filled in) rather than voided. That resemblance suggests the relation of the Esquire to the heraldic
ordinary the
Esquarre. Esquire is an Anglicized variant of the French esquierre,[9] which is a synonym or variant spelling of esquarre/escarre.[10] Both Esquire and Esquarre refer to the ‘square’ (Fr. équerre[11]), the tool used to measure and set right angles. 'Esquire' refers primarily to the triangular variant while 'Esquarre' refers instead to the two-armed variant.
In French, the word équerre is also used to refer to metallic plates formed with right angles that are used to reinforce joins in woodwork and carpentry (as well as the outer corners of suitcases).[12] In English, these devices are known as
gusset plates, while the term
gyron is derived from the Old French term for the Middle French
gousset or gusset.[13] Thus, the heraldic terms Esquire,
Esquarre,
Gusset, and
Gyron share commonalities of both origin and usage. Unlike the other three, however, the Esquire is not considered an
ordinary.[14] This may be due perhaps to the relative rarity of its field-spanning form.[15]
Gallery
On coats of arms and emblems
Arms of the House of
Mortimer (of
Wigmore) (esquire gold; base esquire blue)
This article needs additional or more specific
categories. Please
help out by
adding categories to it so that it can be listed with similar articles.(December 2023)
This article is about the heraldic charge Esquire. For the heraldic charge Esquarre, see
Esquarre (heraldry).
Anglophone heraldry charge
Esquire as ordinaryBase esquire, after Robson (1830)[1]
The Esquire is a heraldic charge that is classed as a
subordinary in Anglophone heraldry.[2] Its form is defined as resembling the
Gyron, as formed of a right triangle; but, with the difference that whereas the
Gyron extends from the outer edge of the field to the center, the Esquire extends across the whole of the field, from one edge to its opposite.[3]
The Base (or Baste) Esquire is a variant of the esquire where the right angle is positioned at the lower edge.[4] Each variant is equivalent to the shape given when a square or other quadrilateral is partitioned diagonally. Some
vexillologists have dubbed this charge the
Triangular panel.[5]
Heraldic writers have used the term esquire to describe not only a field-spanning Ordinary-like charge but more diminutive examples as well.[6] The "chief examples” of the esquire for some writers are the
Arms of Mortimer.[7] When blazoning these arms, esquire is used to describe the treatment of the corners of the
bordurecomponée. Other heraldists have blazoned these as “
gyronny”, and some writers consider the introduction of the term esquire unhelpful, favoring the term gyron instead.[8] Writers who have favored the introduction of the term esquire stress, apparently, that the triangular charge extends across the length of the bordure, rather than to its center.
Etymology and relation to other charges
The etymology of the term Esquire reveals the relation between the form of the charge and its name, and the relation between the charge and other charges. In form, the Esquire resembles the triangular variant of the implement used by carpenters, engineers, or mathematicians to measure or set right angles, but one plein (full or filled in) rather than voided. That resemblance suggests the relation of the Esquire to the heraldic
ordinary the
Esquarre. Esquire is an Anglicized variant of the French esquierre,[9] which is a synonym or variant spelling of esquarre/escarre.[10] Both Esquire and Esquarre refer to the ‘square’ (Fr. équerre[11]), the tool used to measure and set right angles. 'Esquire' refers primarily to the triangular variant while 'Esquarre' refers instead to the two-armed variant.
In French, the word équerre is also used to refer to metallic plates formed with right angles that are used to reinforce joins in woodwork and carpentry (as well as the outer corners of suitcases).[12] In English, these devices are known as
gusset plates, while the term
gyron is derived from the Old French term for the Middle French
gousset or gusset.[13] Thus, the heraldic terms Esquire,
Esquarre,
Gusset, and
Gyron share commonalities of both origin and usage. Unlike the other three, however, the Esquire is not considered an
ordinary.[14] This may be due perhaps to the relative rarity of its field-spanning form.[15]
Gallery
On coats of arms and emblems
Arms of the House of
Mortimer (of
Wigmore) (esquire gold; base esquire blue)
This article needs additional or more specific
categories. Please
help out by
adding categories to it so that it can be listed with similar articles.(December 2023)