knight bachelor

noun

, plural knights bachelors, knight bachelors.

1. bachelor ( def 3 ).

knight bachelor

noun

1. a person who has been knighted but who does not belong to any of the orders of knights
2. See bachelor
   another name for a bachelor

Word History and Origins

Origin of knight bachelor¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

Chandos was still a knight-bachelor when he led part of the prince of Wales's army into Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

Penn′oncelle, a small flag like a pennon; Penn′oncier, a knight-bachelor.

From Project Gutenberg

Pennon, pen′on, n. a flag, a medieval knight-bachelor's ensign: a long narrow flag: a pinion or wing.

From Project Gutenberg

The esquire ranked immediately below the knight bachelor, and his office was regarded as the apprentice stage of knighthood.

From Project Gutenberg

When you direct a letter to a knight bachelor—though it is indeed customary and well-bred to omit altogether the Knt.

From Project Gutenberg