I. ˈnīt noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English cniht man-at-arms, boy, servant; akin to Old High German kneht youth, military follower
Date: before 12th century
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
II. transitive verb
Date: 13th century
: to make a knight of