Sir
From Freepedia
Sir is an honorary title.
It derives from the Middle English sire, from the French sieur, meaning "lord," from the Latin adjective senior ("elder"), which yielded titles of respect in many European languages
It was once used (without the person's name) as a courtesy title among equals, but is now usually reserved for one of superior rank or stature (e.g. an educator, chief, ) or in age (especially by a minor); as a form of address from a merchant to a customer; in formal correspondence (Dear Sir, Right Reverend Sir); or to a stranger (Sir, you've dropped your hat). The equivalent for a woman is madam.
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Formal styling
In formal protocol Sir is also the correct styling for a knight or a baronet (the UK nobiliary rank just below all Peers of the realm), used with the knight's given name or full name, but not with the surname alone (Sir Paul McCartney or Sir Paul, not Sir McCartney). The equivalent for a woman is Dame (for one who holds the title in her own right). The wife of a knight, or baronet, is however styled Lady.
A person who is not a subject of the British monarch (i.e. a citizen of a non-Commonwealth country) who receives an honorary knighthood is not entitled to use this style (e.g. Alan Greenspan, KBE, not Sir Alan Greenspan). Dual nationals holding a Commonwealth citizenship that recognises the British monarch as head of state are entitled to use the styling, although common usage varies from country to country: for instance, dual Bahamian-American citizen Sidney Poitier, knighted in 1968, is often styled Sir Sidney Poitier, particularly in connection with his official ambassadorial duties.
Military use
The common use of Sir instead of the rank specific address for a military, police or other officer is rather specific to English, in most languages no such general address is considered respectful, or the two are combined, as in German Herr followed by the rank.
When addressing a superior officer(Not a NCO), "sir" is used to replace the person's specific rank.
Miscellaneous
- Sirrah was a 16th century derivative that implied the inferiority of the addresse.
- The informal forms sirree and siree are merely devised for emphasis in speech, mainly after Yes or No
- Not to be confused with the now exclusively royal (l.s.) Sire, even though this has the same etymological root.
