knight

¹

[nahyt]

noun

1. a mounted soldier serving under a feudal superior in the Middle Ages.

2. (in Europe in the Middle Ages) a man, usually of noble birth, who after an apprenticeship as page and squire was raised to honorable military rank and bound to chivalrous conduct.

3. any person of a rank similar to that of the medieval knight.

4. a man upon whom the nonhereditary dignity of knighthood is conferred by a sovereign because of personal merit or for services rendered to the country. In Great Britain he holds the rank next below that of a baronet, and the title Sir is prefixed to the Christian name, as in Sir John Smith.

5. a member of any order or association that designates its members as knights.

6. Chess.,  a piece shaped like a horse's head, moved one square vertically and then two squares horizontally or one square horizontally and two squares vertically.

7. Nautical.

   1. a short vertical timber having on its head a sheave through which running rigging is rove.

   2. any other fitting or erection bearing such a sheave.

verb (used with object)

1. to dub or make (a man) a knight.

Knight

²

[nahyt]

noun

1. Eric, 1897–1943, U.S. novelist, born in England.

2. Frank Hyneman 1885–1972, U.S. economist.

knight

¹

/ naɪt /

noun

1. 1. (originally) a person who served his lord as a mounted and heavily armed soldier

   2. (later) a gentleman invested by a king or other lord with the military and social standing of this rank

2. (in modern times) a person invested by a sovereign with a nonhereditary rank and dignity usually in recognition of personal services, achievements, etc. A British knight bears the title Sir placed before his name, as in Sir Winston Churchill

3. a chess piece, usually shaped like a horse's head, that moves either two squares horizontally and one square vertically or one square horizontally and two squares vertically

4. a heroic champion of a lady or of a cause or principle

5. a member of the Roman class of the equites

verb

1. (tr) to make (a person) a knight; dub

Knight

²

/ naɪt /

noun

1. Dame Laura. 1887–1970, British painter, noted for her paintings of Gypsies, the ballet, and the circus

knight

1. A mounted warrior in Europe in the Middle Ages. (See chivalry.)

Over the centuries, knighthood gradually lost its military functions, but it has survived as a social distinction in Europe, especially in England.

Other Word Forms

• knightless adjective
• unknighted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of knight¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English cniht boy, manservant; cognate with German, Dutch knecht servant

Word History and Origins

Origin of knight¹

Old English cniht servant; related to Old High German kneht boy

Example Sentences

The comedian, also affectionately known as the Big Yin, was knighted in 2017 for services to entertainment and charity.

From BBC

In fact, it’s virtually impossible to tell whether he’s more psyched about “Slow Horses” or being knighted.

From Los Angeles Times

There had been accusations of unfairness about specific gaps, such as the lack of any knighthoods for rugby league, unlike rugby union and other sports where former stars had been knighted.

From BBC

WG Grace was the game's first superstar, Jack Hobbs the first cricketer to be knighted.

From BBC

The 72-year-old was named knight of the Legion of Honour on a list announced ahead of France's Bastille Day.

From BBC