sb. Forms: 4 baronete, 5–6 -ette, 6 barronett, 5– baronet. [dim. of BARON: see -ET.]
† 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 afterwardes 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.
1752. 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.
