palfrey

[ pawl-free ]

/ ˈpɔl fri /

Save This Word!

noun, plural pal·freys.

a riding horse, as distinguished from a war horse.

a saddle horse particularly suitable for a woman.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

OTHER WORDS FROM palfrey

palfreyed, adjective

Words nearby palfrey

paletot, palette, palette knife, pale western cutworm, Paley, palfrey, Palgrave, pali, Pali Canon, palikar, palikinesia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use palfrey in a sentence

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
King Robert himself was riding in front of Sir Edward's division on a small palfrey, with only a battle-axe in hand.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
Not even Messrs. Bancroft and Palfrey have thought it unworthy of their eloquent pages.
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2|Egerton Ryerson
Mr. Palfrey observes, that "the death of the Protector is not so much as referred to in the public records of Massachusetts."
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2|Egerton Ryerson

Mr. Palfrey terms this attempt a "Presbyterian cabal," and calls its leaders "conspirators."
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2|Egerton Ryerson
These eloquent words of Dr. Palfrey are very suggestive, and deserve to be carefully pondered by the reader.
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2|Egerton Ryerson

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