knight

A medieval tenant giving military service as a mounted man-at-arms to a feudal landholder.

A medieval gentleman-soldier, usually high-born, raised by a sovereign to privileged military status after training as a page and squire.

A man holding a nonhereditary title conferred by a sovereign in recognition of personal merit or service to the country.

A man belonging to an order or brotherhood.

A defender, champion, or zealous upholder of a cause or principle.

The devoted champion of a lady.

A chess piece, usually in the shape of a horse’s head, that can be moved two squares along a rank and one along a file or two squares along a file and one along a rank. The knight is the only piece that can jump other pieces to land on an open square.

To raise (a person) to knighthood.