palfrey

[ pawl-free ]

/ ˈpɔl fri /

noun, plural pal·freys.

a riding horse, as distinguished from a war horse.

a saddle horse particularly suitable for a woman.

Nearby words

Origin of palfrey

1200–50; Middle English palefrei < Old French < Late Latin paraverēdus post horse for byways, probably literally, spare horse, equivalent to Greek para- para-¹ + Latin verēdus fast breed of horse < Gaulish < Celtic *woreidos (> Welsh gorwydd horse, charger), equivalent to *wo- under (< *upo-; cf. hypo-) + *reid-, base of Old Irish réidid (he) rides, réid level, smooth, easy, Welsh rhwydd easy; see ride

Related formspal·freyed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for palfrey

According to Palfrey, Microsoft has donated between $100,000 and $150,000 to the Berkman Center for 2010.
Harvard vs. Steve Jobs|Emily Brill|July 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST
They had already got out for her a palfrey with an easy pace.
Four Arthurian Romances|Chretien DeTroyes
And now no one guides the damsel, save God only; she gives her palfrey the rein and he turns into the tangled by-way.
Tales from the Old French|Various
Even as he spoke there came a damsel riding hard on a palfrey, and she cried with a loud voice on Sir Tor to grant her a boon.
Stories of the Days of King Arthur|Charles Henry Hanson

I give Mr. Palfrey's statements, in his own words, in a note.
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2|Egerton Ryerson
The palfrey seeth the path, full oft had he traversed it, and straightway left the road and the cavalcade of horses.
Tales from the Old French|Various

British Dictionary definitions for palfrey

palfrey

/ (ˈpɔːlfrɪ) /

noun

archaic a light saddle horse, esp ridden by women

Word Origin for palfrey

C12: from Old French palefrei, from Medieval Latin palafredus, from Late Latin paraverēdus, from Greek para beside + Latin verēdus light fleet horse, of Celtic origin

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

Word Origin and History for palfrey

palfrey

c.1200 (mid-12c. as a surname), "saddle horse for ordinary riding (opposed to a war horse), small horse for ladies," from Old French palefroi (11c.) and directly from Medieval Latin palafredus, altered by dissimilation from Late Latin paraveredus "post horse for outlying districts" (6c.), originally "extra horse," from Greek para "beside, secondary" (see para-) + Latin veredus "post horse; light, fast horse used by couriers," from Gaulish *voredos, from Celtic *wo-red- (cf. Welsh gorwydd "horse," Old Irish riadaim "I ride"), from PIE root *reidh- "to ride" (see ride (v.)). The Latin word passed to Old High German as pfarifrid, where in modern German it has become the usual word for "horse" (Pferd).