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.
Eric, 1897–1943, U.S. novelist, born in England.
Frank Hyneman 1885–1972, U.S. economist.
(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
Over the centuries, knighthood gradually lost its military functions, but it has survived as a social distinction in Europe, especially in England.
before 900; Middle English; Old English cniht boy, manservant; cognate with German, Dutch knecht servant
Traditionally the noun knight means someone born of the nobility and trained to fight, usually in heavy metal armor. If a king decides to knight you, that means the king wants to make you into a knight. Real life knights haven’t been around since the Middle Ages, which ended around 600 years ago. These days knight is an honorary title awarded by nations with royal families like the UK. These nations will knight anyone they think is deserving from a rock star to a politician. More casually, you can use knight to describe anyone who acts chivalrously, or bravely. If you are rescued from a burning building, you might call your rescuer, a "knight in shining armor."
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Instead, the story of a lone knight and his young companion forges a new tonal path in the “Game of Thrones” universe.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
His highest honour yet came on Tuesday, when the 48-year-old became a knight of the National Order of the Leopard.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
The protests all sound a little bit like the “Not dead yet” knight in Monty Python.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
The first part references Galahad, a knight known for his upright and noble character, reflecting the animal's upright posture.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 21, 2026
The old woman shuffled back to the barn, and after a quick glance at the fools and the knight, Anya followed.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
“Saar’s assemblage doesn’t just describe history,” wrote former Times art critic Christopher Knight of her work in 2019, “it embodies a visceral connection to it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Knight said the spreadsheet reminded her how uncomfortable she felt in the moment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
For Peyton Knight, a 27-year-old brand strategist in Austin, the rigidity shield is the whole point.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
It was a disappointing ending to the fine careers of former captain Heather Knight and batter Tammy Beaumont, having fallen cheaply in England's innings the previous day.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
I go, "So the Black Knight was a Cub Scout, huh?" and Freak laughs and says, "That way. We go to the East on a secret mission."
From "Freak The Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick
"It was brought there by three knights who left there in the 12th Century."
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026
There’s a large and varied field to choose from, even if there are no celebrities or white knights riding to the rescue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2026
If there were an unofficial tagline that describes it best, it is that all men are knights, and all men are fools.
From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2026
This brings to mind the medieval episode of England’s King Henry II idly importuning some knights to rid him of Archbishop Thomas Becket, only to be surprised when they actually did it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 12, 2026
And if any young knights in armor dared to come calling on their white chargers and plead with me to let down my hair, I would pelt them with peach pits until they went home.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
In the world of entertainment, the founders of the animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run - Peter Lord and David Sproxton - are knighted.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
You’ve been knighted by the king of Spain!
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
Patrick Vernon is being knighted for services to racial equality.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
Beckham, who was knighted by Britain's King Charles III last year, also ventured into the entertainment industry, co-founding the content production company Studio 99 in 2019.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
“You know, I’m ninety-eight percent sure the queen would’ve knighted that guy had he not died so young, may his soul rest in peace.”
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
Highlights include Podrick singing "Jenny of Oldstones," Sansa reuniting with Theon, and of course, Jaime knighting Brienne.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2022
With many outgoing prime ministers in their final days often rewarding or knighting members of their loyal staff, perhaps a chance to repair the relationship still remains.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2019
A mere two weeks after her triumphant knighting, Brienne ended the episode wailing over a man while wearing a nightgown – one of the only times we’ve seen her out of her armour.
From The Guardian ● May 8, 2019
Yes, he was very sweet to Brienne, especially in that impromptu knighting ceremony, and yes, it was nice to see the Lannister brothers make up after letting Cersei come between them one too many times.
From Slate ● Apr. 22, 2019
She said it as solemn as if she was a queen knighting me with words.
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
