A baronet (/ˈbærənɪt/ or /ˈbærəˌnɛt/; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess (/ˈbærənɪtɪs/, /ˈbærənɪtɛs/, or /ˌbærəˈnɛtɛs/; 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.