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Webster 1913 Edition
Armigerous
Ar-mig′er-ous
,Adj.
Bearing arms.
[R.]
They belonged to the
armigerous
part of the population, and were entitled to write themselves Esquire. De Quincey.
Webster 1828 Edition
Armigerous
ARMIG'EROUS
,Adj.
Literally, bearing arms. But in present usage, armiger is a title of dignity next in degree to a knight. In times of chivalry, it signified an attendant on a knight, or other person of rank, who bore his shield and rendered him other military services. so in antiquity, Abimilech, Saul, &c. had their armor bearers. Judg. 9. 1Sam. 16. as had Hector and Achilles. This title, under the French princes, in England, was exchanged, in common usage, for esquire, L. scutum, a shield. Armiger is still retained with us as a title of respect, being the Latin word equivalent to esquire, which see.