A baronet (/bærənɪt/ or /bærənɛt/; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess (/bærəˈnɛtɛs/; abbreviation "Btss"), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The practice of awarding baronetcies was originally introduced in England in the 14th century and was used by James I of England in 1611 as a means of raising funds.