Percival

[ pur-suh-vuhl ]

noun

1. Also Per·ci·vale. Arthurian Legend. a knight of King Arthur's court who sought the Holy Grail: comparable to Parzival or Parsifal in Teutonic legend.
2. a male given name.

Percival

/ ˈpɜːsɪvəl /

noun

1. (in Arthurian legend) a knight in King Arthur's court German equivalentParzival

Word History and Origins

Origin of Percival¹

From Old French Perceval, of disputed origin; perhaps literally “pierce the valley” ( pierce ( def ), vale ( def ) ) or “through this valley” (from par “through” + cel “this” + val “valley”; per ( def ) ); alternatively, an alteration of Welsh Peredur

Example Sentences

Carla Percival-Young, an architect with Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc., has designed six new schools for storm safety.

From The Daily Beast

But doesn't your mother want the rest of you to get married—Percival and Nick and you?

From Project Gutenberg

Canon Percival was a bachelor, and till Dorothy came he had never had much to do with children.

From Project Gutenberg

When the luggage stood in the hall on the morning of departure, Canon Percival shrugged his shoulders, and gave a low whistle.

From Project Gutenberg

Canon Percival jumped in, and they were gliding quietly out of the station and leaving Coldchester far behind.

From Project Gutenberg

"Percival" would by no means allow itself to be put on the same line, and had to go beneath it.

From Project Gutenberg