knight
a mounted soldier serving under a feudal superior in the Middle Ages.
(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.
any person of a rank similar to that of the medieval knight.
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.
a member of any order or association that designates its members as knights.
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.
Nautical.
a short vertical timber having on its head a sheave through which running rigging is rove.
any other fitting or erection bearing such a sheave.
to dub or make (a man) a knight.
Origin of knight
1Other words from knight
- knightless, adjective
- un·knight·ed, adjective
Words that may be confused with knight
- knight , night
Other definitions for Knight (2 of 2)
Eric, 1897–1943, U.S. novelist, born in England.
Frank Hy·ne·man [hahy-nuh-muhn], /ˈhaɪ nə mən/, 1885–1972, U.S. economist.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use knight in a sentence
And in this way the ceremony of knighting the poor man was concluded.
A Treasury of Heroes and Heroines | Clayton EdwardsNearly every morning before school, Dan was up early making articles which could be used at the grand knighting ceremony.
Dan Carter and the Money Box | Mildred A. WirtThere's more knighting than comes from the King's hand, my good Philpotts.
Sir Christopher | Maud Wilder GoodwinBy permission of the King he then exercised the privileges of his new rank by knighting nine noble squires.
The History of Chivalry, Volume II (of 2) | Charles MillsIn the north, the last great knighting, when 'twas God's great mercy we were not all knights.
A Select Collection of Old English Plays | Robert Dodsley
British Dictionary definitions for knight (1 of 2)
/ (naɪt) /
(in medieval Europe)
(originally) a person who served his lord as a mounted and heavily armed soldier
(later) a gentleman invested by a king or other lord with the military and social standing of this rank
(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
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
a heroic champion of a lady or of a cause or principle
a member of the Roman class of the equites
(tr) to make (a person) a knight; dub
Origin of knight
1British Dictionary definitions for Knight (2 of 2)
/ (naɪt) /
Dame Laura. 1887–1970, British painter, noted for her paintings of Gypsies, the ballet, and the circus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for knight
A mounted warrior in Europe in the Middle Ages. (See chivalry.)
Notes for knight
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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