Middle English Dictionary Entry

knī̆ght n.
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Entry Info

Forms knī̆ght n. Also knigt, cnigt, kniȝt, kniht, cniht, knigȝt, kniȝght, kniȝht, knikt, knict, cnict, knicht, cnect, (early sg.dat.) cnihten, (Latinized) cnihtus, (late) knigh & knist, cnist & knith, cnith, knitht, cnitht, knigth, kniȝth, knicth & knit, kneit, knitȝ & kinight, kinniȝt, kiniht, keneit, chenict & cinht, kinct, kincht, cincht, chincht, kintte, (late) kingh & (only in names) knich, knitch, cnichting. Pl. knī̆ghtes, knittes, cnittes, kneittes, etc. & kniȝten, cnihten, knighte, cnihte; pl. gen. knighten(e, cnihten(e, kniȝten(e, cnithten(e, knittene, cinthene & cnihte, cnihtæ, cnithte, cnithta, chenicte, chenicta; pl.dat. (early) cnihte(n, cinhten.
Etymology OE cniht (from earlier WS cneoht, A cneht, cnæht); pl. cnihtas.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A noble warrior; a member of the land-holding ruling class, owing military service to his lord and fighting on horseback; one who had received the status of knight from the king or other important knight; order of ~, order of knighthood; dubben to ~, dubben (maken) ~, to confer on (sb.) the order of knighthood [see dubben 1. (b)]; (b) as title; (c) in phrases: ~ aventurous, a knight errant [see aventurous 3. (a)]; ~ bacheler [see bacheler 4. (b)]; ~ baneret [see baneret n. (1) (b)]; ~ in (of) armes, an armed knight [see armes 2b. (a)]; ~ of Rodes (seint John), a knight of Rhodes, knight hospitaller; ~ of the chaumbre [see chaumbre 6.]; ~ of the garter [see garter 2. (c)]; ~ of the shire (communite, parlement), one chosen to represent a borough in Parliament, a member of Parliament; ~ of the table round, one of King Arthur's knights; ~ of the cler sterre [see quot. ?a1425]; (d) in cpds. & combs.: ~ (knightes, knighten) chaumbre, a room or residence for knights; ~ (knightene) court, ?a court of chivalry [see court 8. (d)]; knightes-mete, knighten-spence, a rate or tax; knightes-mete-hom [cp. mete n. (1) & OE hām] = knightes fe; ~ wed, the dress of a knight; ~ wered, a troop of knights; ~ wif, a lady of knightly rank; (e) one considered as having the social status or characteristics of a contemporary knight, a nobleman, ruler, protector; fig. of Christ, an angel; (f) joc. pillorie ~, a felon; Poules ~, an idler, one who loafs about St. Paul's.
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2.
(a) A soldier of Biblical or ancient times; fig. an angel; knightene wei, a soldiers' road, military road; (b) a cavalryman; (c) fig. a servant of God, a fighter (physically or spiritually) in God's cause, a champion of Christianity; goddes (cristes, drihtenes) ~.
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3.
(a) An attendant, servant; prides ~, a servant of pride, a proud person; keping ~, a keeper; (b) a retainer to a nobleman, a follower; cnihte(ne gild, a guild of retainers; ~ halle; (c) one who loves or serves a lady; also, a servant of the Virgin or of a god.
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4.
A young boy, youth; ~ barn (child), boy, page.
Show 5 Quotations
5.
A chess piece, the knight.
Show 4 Quotations
6.
Naut. pl. Bitts.
Show 2 Quotations
7.
(a) In place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.102]; (b) in surnames; (c) in names of ships.
Show 30 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6011 : Ȝee herde Of þe kynges oost and ferde, Þat amounted fyue hundreþ þousynde kniȝttes to armes.
    • Note: Sense 1.(b) this phr. with to not noted - has in, of, knights at arms--per MJW

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: For a no. of new forms see rōd-knight n.--per REL

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