Middle English Dictionary Entry
chevalēr n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chevalēr n. Also -ier, chivaler, -our. |
| Etymology | AF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An armed horseman of noble birth, practiced in the art of warfare, formally inducted into the service of an overlord, and in duty bound to serve him upon call; a knight; also, a noble of low rank, knight of the shire, etc., without reference to military service, or a warrior of ancient times; (b) as a title or name.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.99 : Ȝowre champioun chiualer, chief knyȝt of ȝow alle.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)208 : There was a cheeffe buttlere, a cheualere noble, Sir Cayous the curtaise.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1551 : Þe cheefe chauncelere, þe cheualere noble.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2116 : Theis geauntez..choppode thurghe cheualers on chalke-whytte stedez.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2661 : Chyvalours Of Norwey..and Denmark nacioun.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)125/52 : Þas churles, as cheueleres, ye chastise and chase.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)329/290 : Be his sorcery..He charmes oure chyualers.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1619 : Achilles with his chiualers.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)40 : Thi litil book of knyghthode & bataile, What Chiualer is best on it bewere.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)4.29 : And sente side sondis to schreuys abouȝte, To chese swiche cheualleris as þe charge wold To schewe for þe schire in company with þe grete.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)57 : Barons, baronettis, consules, chevalers, esquiers.
- (c1475) Exped.Edw.IV (Arms 2M.16)p.lv : 10 cheualiers.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)58 : Eques, ab equo, is seid..And cheualer is saide of cheualrye.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)10 : They slewe..knightes and chevaleres..the best that were in this londe.
b
- (1205) CRR(2) 3347 : Robertus le Chevaler.
- (1281) Let.Bk.Lond.B (Gldh LetBk B)13 : William le Chyvaler.
- (1332) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.3120 : De praedicto Johanne de Den, Chivaler.
- (1372) Will York in Sur.Soc.488 : Ego, Milo de Stapilton, chivaler.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)318/3 : Sir William Meledon, Chivaler.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)15 : The seyd erle made ser John Fastolfe, chevaler, his lieutenaunt.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1130/2 : Than, as the Freynsh booke saythe, sir Launcelot was called many dayes aftyr 'le Shyvalere de Charyotte', and so he ded many dedys and grete adventures.
Note: New form: Also..shivalere.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL