▪ I. baronet, n.
(ˈbærənɪt)
Forms: 4 baronete, 5–6 -ette, 6 barronett, 5– baronet.
[dim. of baron: see -et1.]
† 1. orig. A word meaning young, little, or lesser baron, found as a title from the 14th c. According to Spenser (State of Ireland) originally applied to gentlemen, not barons by tenure, summoned to the House of Lords by Edward III; perhaps to the heirs of barons summoned by writ in their fathers' life-time. Applied in Ireland to the holder of a small barony. Often used as synonymous with banneret. Obs.
| a 1400 Chester Pl. 172 All that heare be sette, Barrones, burges and baronete. c 1460 Launfal 56 No nother man was yn halle ysette, But he wer prelat, other baronette. c 1475 in Wright Voc. 262 Barunculus, baronet. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. liii. 75 He departed fro Gaunt with vii. erles of his contrey, viii. prelates, xxviii. baronettes [F. vingt-huit bannerets], ii. C. knyghtes. 1596 Spenser State Irel. (J.) The which barrons, they say, were not afterwards lordes but only barronetts, as sundrye of them doe yet retayne the name. 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. iii. iii. 157 Thomastowne, and the ancient City Rheban, now a poore Village with a Castle, yet of old giuing the title of Baronet. 1662 Fuller Worthies i. 111 Ancient Baronets..promiscuously blended with Bannerets, (Sir Ralph Fane in a Patent passed unto him, is expressly term'd a Baronet). |
2. now, A titled order, the lowest that is hereditary, ranking next below a baron, having precedence of all orders of knighthood, except that of the Garter. A baronet is a commoner, the principle of the order being ‘to give rank, precedence, and title without privilege.’
They consist of Baronets of England (now of Great Britain) instituted in 1611, to raise money for the settlement of Ulster by the fees paid for the dignity; Baronets of Scotland (or of Nova Scotia) instituted 1625 for the encouragement of the planting and settling of Nova Scotia; Baronets of Ireland instituted 1619. Of the two latter there have been no new creations since 1707 and 1801 respectively.
| 1614 Selden Titles Hon. 355 Baronet became a new erected distinct Title vnder our present Soueraigne. 1702 J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. iii. iv. (1743) 169 The next degree to Barons, are Baronets, which is the lowest degree of Honour that is Hereditary. 1751 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Both a baronet and his eldest son, being of full age, may claim knighthood. 1785 Burke Nab. Arcot's Debts Wks. IV. 195 The prosecutor of the worthy baronet. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey ii. xii. 58 Baronets with blood older than the creation. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xix. (L.) A decided majority of..rustic baronets and squires. |
3. baronet's hand: the ‘bloody hand,’ or hand gules in a field argent (the arms of Ulster), granted by James I to English baronets to be borne on a canton or in an escutcheon on their shield, in allusion to the purpose for which the order was instituted.
| 1710 Lond. Gaz. No. 4654/3 Two Salts, Ermine and Baronets Hand, 1 Saucepan. |
▪ II. baronet, v.
(ˈbærənɛt)
Pa. tense and pple. -eted.
[f. prec. n.; cf. to knight.]
trans. To raise to the rank of baronet. (Mostly in pass.)
| a 1733 North Exam. iii. vii. ¶73 He had deserved to have been Baronetted. 1819 Southey Lett. (1856) III. 116, I have long expected that Scott would be baronetted. 1872 M. Collins Two Plunges III. viii. 210 The unfortunate gentlemen whom I notice as being knighted or baroneted. |