noun

• (chiefly historical) A man of gentle but not noble birth, particularly a man of means (originally ownership of property) who does not work for a living but has no official status in a peerage; (UK law) an armiferous man ranking below a knight.
• Any well-bred, well-mannered, or charming man.
• (derogatory) An effeminate or oversophisticated man.
• (polite term of address) Any man.
• (usually historical, sometimes derogatory) An amateur or dabbler in any field, particularly those of independent means.
• (cricket) An amateur player, particularly one whose wealth permits him to forego payment.
• A surname transferred from the nickname.