or Ecury, a grand stable or lodge for horses, furnished with all the conveniences thereof; as stalls, manger, rack, &c. The word is formed from the French ecurie, which signifies the same thing. Some again derive ecurie from the Latin securia, which not only denotes a place for beasts to be put up in, but also a grange or barn. But a more probable derivation is from equile, "a stable for horses," of equus, "horse." Some hold that the word stable, in propriety, relates only to bullocks, cows, sheep, hogs, &c. and ecuary, to horses, mules, &c.

A simple ecuary is that provided for one row of horses; a double ecuary that provided for two, with a passage in the middle, or two passages; the horses being placed head to head, as in the little ecuary at Verfailles.

Under ecuary are sometimes also comprehended the lodgings and apartments of the ecueries, grooms, pages, &c.

Ecuary (ecuery), is also an officer who has the care and management of the horses of a king or prince.

ECUERIES, or ECUERIES, popularly called Querries, are particularly used among us for officers of the king's stables, under the master of the horse, seven in number, who, when his majesty goes abroad, ride in the leading coach, are in waiting one at a time monthly, and have a table with the gentlemen uthers during the time, and a salary of 300l. a-year each. They used to ride on horseback by the coach side when the king travelled; but that being more expensive to them than necessary to the sovereign, it has been discontinued.

ECUERIES of the Crown Stable have that appellation, as being employed in managing and breaking the saddle-horses, and preparing them for the king's riding. These are two in number; the first having an annual salary of 256l. and the second 200l. whereof one is, or always should be, in close waiting at court; and when his majesty rides, holds the stirrup, while the master of the horse, or one of the ecueries in his absence, assists in mounting him; and when his majesty rides, they usually attend him.

ECUES, in antiquity. See EQUESTRIAN Order and ECUITES.

Ecues Auratus, is used to signify a knight-bachelor, called auratus, q.d. gilt, because anciently none but knights might gild or beautify their armour or other habiliments of war with gold. In law this term is not used, but instead of it miler, and sometimes chevalier.