Gentleman

Gentleman

The term gentleman (from Latin gentilis, belonging to a race or gens, and man, cognate with the French word gentilhomme, the Spanish Caballero, the Italian gentil uomo or gentiluomo and the Portuguese gentil-homem), in its original and strict signification, denoted a man of the lowest rank of the English gentry, standing below an esquire and above a yeoman.

Read more about Gentleman.

Famous quotes containing the word gentleman:

    I must have the gentleman to haul and draw with the mariner, and the mariner with the gentleman.... I would know him, that would refuse to set his hand to a rope, but I know there is not any such here.
    Francis, Sir Drake (1540–1596)

    There was a young lady of Joppa
    Who came a society cropper.
    She went to Ostend
    With a gentleman friend—
    And the rest of the story’s improper.
    Anonymous.