knight

UK: /ˈnaɪt/ US: /naɪt/ ,(nīt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

knight /naɪt/   n. [countable]

1. World History (in the Middle Ages) a mounted soldier serving under a lord or king and having an honorable rank.
2. British Terms a man who is given a title of knighthood by a king, in Great Britain ranking next below a baronet.
3. a member of any order or association that designates its members as knights:
   the Knights of Columbus.
4. Chess a chess piece shaped like a horse's head.

v. [~ + object]

5. to dub or make (a man) a knight:
   He was knighted by King Arthur himself.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

knight  (nīt), n. 

1. World History a mounted soldier serving under a feudal superior in the Middle Ages.
2. World History (in Europe in the Middle Ages) a man, usually of noble birth, who after an apprenticeship as page and squire was raised to honorable military rank and bound to chivalrous conduct.
3. any person of a rank similar to that of the medieval knight.
4. British Terms a man upon whom the nonhereditary dignity of knighthood is conferred by a sovereign because of personal merit or for services rendered to the country. In Great Britain he holds the rank next below that of a baronet, and the title Sir is prefixed to the Christian name, as in Sir John Smith.
5. a member of any order or association that designates its members as knights.
6. Chess a piece shaped like a horse's head, moved one square vertically and then two squares horizontally or one square horizontally and two squares vertically.
7. Nautical, Naval Terms
   • a short vertical timber having on its head a sheave through which running rigging is rove.
   • any other fitting or erection bearing such a sheave.

v.t. 

8. to dub or make (a man) a knight.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English cniht boy, manservant; cognate with German, Dutch knecht servant

knight′less, adj. 

Knight  (nīt), n. 

1. Biographical Eric, 1897–1943, U.S. novelist, born in England.

Frank Hy•ne•man  (hī′nə mən), 1885–1972, U.S. economist.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

knight / naɪt/ noun

1. (in medieval Europe) (originally) a person who served his lord as a mounted and heavily armed soldier
2. (later) a gentleman invested by a king or other lord with the military and social standing of this rank
3. (in modern times) a man invested by a sovereign with a nonhereditary rank and dignity usually in recognition of personal services, achievements, etc. A British knight bears the title Sir placed before his name, as in Sir Winston Churchill
4. a chess piece, usually shaped like a horse's head, that moves either two squares horizontally and one square vertically or one square horizontally and two squares vertically
5. a heroic champion of a lady or of a cause or principle
6. a member of the Roman class of the equites

verb

1. (transitive) to make (a person) a knight; dub

Etymology: Old English cniht servant; related to Old High German kneht boy

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Knight / naɪt/ noun

1. Dame Laura. 1887–1970, British painter, noted for her paintings of Gypsies, the ballet, and the circus