Hypertext Webster Gateway: "baronet"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Baronet \Bar"on*et\, n. [Baron + -et.]
A dignity or degree of honor next below a baron and above a
knight, having precedency of all orders of knights except
those of the Garter. It is the lowest degree of honor that is
hereditary. The baronets are commoners.
Note: The order was founded by James I. in 1611, and is given
by patent. The word, however, in the sense of a lesser
baron, was in use long before. ``Baronets have the
title of 'Sir' prefixed to their Christian names; their
surnames being followed by their dignity, usually
abbreviated Bart. Their wives are addressed as 'Lady'
or 'Madam'. Their sons are possessed of no title beyond
'Esquire.''' --Cussans.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
Baronet
n : a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron
but above a knight; "since he was a baronet he had to be
addressed as Sir Henry Jones, Bart." [syn: {Baronet}, {Bart}]
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