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

paletot, palette, palette knife, palette of narmer, paley, palfrey, palgrave, pali, pali canon, palikar, palikinesia

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 forms

pal·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