First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1knight
noun \ˈnīt\
: a soldier in the past who had a high social rank and who fought while riding a horse and usually wearing armor
: a man who is given a special honor and the title of Sir by the king or queen of England
: a chess piece shaped like a horse's head
Full Definition of KNIGHT
1
a (1) : a mounted man-at-arms serving a feudal superior; especially : a man ceremonially inducted into special military rank usually after completing service as page and squire (2) : a man honored by a sovereign for merit and in Great Britain ranking below a baronet (3) : a person of antiquity equal to a knight in rank b : a man devoted to the service of a lady as her attendant or champion c : a member of an order or society
2
: either of two pieces of each color in a set of chessmen having the power to make an L-shaped move of two squares in one row and one square in a perpendicular row over squares that may be occupied
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Origin of KNIGHT
Middle English, from Old English cniht man-at-arms, boy, servant; akin to Old High German kneht youth, military follower
2knight
verb
: to give (a man) the rank of a knight
Full Definition of KNIGHT
transitive verb
: to make a knight of
See knight defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of KNIGHT
13th century
KNIGHT Defined for Kids
1knight
noun \ˈnīt\
Definition of KNIGHT for Kids
1
: a warrior of the Middle Ages who fought on horseback, served a king, held a special military rank, and swore to behave in a noble way
2
: a man honored for merit by a king or queen of England and ranking below a baronet
3
: one of the pieces in the game of chess
— knight·ly adjective
2knight
verb
knight·edknight·ing
Definition of KNIGHT for Kids
: to honor a man for merit by granting him the title of knight
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