squirearchy

plural squirearchies · alternative squirarchy

1. historicalThe landowning gentry.

   For many years a combination of rural squirearchies and business interests held tight control of most state capitols.

   1972, James A. Burkhart, Samuel Krislov, Raymond Lawrence Lee, American Government: the Clash of Issues, Prentice-Hall, page 92

   2 more examples

   Now, as one of the squirearchy, greeted with honorable salutations by the villagers, he marched into his office, and peace and dignity were upon him, and the morning's dissonances all unheard.

   1922, Sinclair Lewis, chapter 3, in Babbitt

   1930 [Cambridge University Press], G. G. Coulton, The Medieval Scene: An Informal Introduction to the Middle Ages, 2000, Dover, page 37, We may characterise medieval village government not unfairly as squirearchy, though often a benevolent squirearchy enough, just as the squirearchy of the eighteenth century was often benevolent also.