/ naɪt; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
(in the Middle Ages) a man of high social rank who had a duty to fight for his king. Knights are often shown in pictures riding horses and wearing armour .
—see also black knight , white knight
2.
(in Britain) a man who has been given a special honour by the king or queen and has the title Sir before his name
—compare baronet
3.
a piece used in the game of chess that is shaped like a horse's head
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IDIOMS
- a knight in shining armour
■ verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to give sb the rank and title of a knight :
He was knighted by the Queen for his services to industry.
For more information see the Cultural Guide
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English cniht boy, youth, servant , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch knecht and German Knecht . Sense 2 dates from the mid 16th cent.