Knight

¹

[nahyt]

noun

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

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

knight

²

[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

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

Two of the other five have been knighted.

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There have been calls for the Scotland manager to be knighted, for pubs to be given special late night licences, and for a holiday on the day of the opening match.

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These stories submerged their young readers in thrilling quests filled with heroic knights and adventurers.

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He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List for his contributions to business and the food industry in the U.K., the company said.

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This week, pregnant British teenager Bella Culley was released from prison in Georgia, there was a walkout at the Miss Universe competition in Thailand, and David Beckham was knighted by King Charles.

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