C14: from Old French hospitalier, from Medieval Latin hospitālārius, from hospitāle hospice; see hospital
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The fort’s museum describes the nobles of the multinational Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, who along with the Maltese people helped repel the invaders.
From Washington Post • Aug. 24, 2017
And, just below, a large red-and-white flag billowing above Rome’s glitziest shopping area signals the presence of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta.
From Economist • Aug. 11, 2016
No rulers have been more closely associated with Malta than the Knights, otherwise known by their full name, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2016
The Hospitaller Knights of St. John, founded during the Crusades, settled in Malta in 1530 and stayed until 1798, during which time they left an indelible mark.
From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2013
As regards the knight of Malta—Knight of Roads—"Rhodes"—he should have been—we are sorry to state that the career of the Ruffler terminated in a madhouse, and thus the poor knight became in reality a Hospitaller!
From Rookwood by Ainsworth, William Harrison
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