Meaning of knight in English

1. Pronunciation

   /naɪt/

   US accent

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   UK accent

   How to pronounce knight in British English, in context ▾
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1. Verb

   knight

   Definitions

   1. raise (someone) to knighthood

   Examples

   • « The Beatles were knighted »

2. Noun

   knight

   Etymology

   Old English cniht ‘boy, youth, servant’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch knecht and German Knecht. knight (sense 2 of the noun) dates from the mid 16th century; the uses relating to Greek and Roman history derive from comparison with medieval knights

   Definitions

   1. originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry

   Examples

   • « today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit »
3. 2. a chessman in the shape of a horse's head

   Examples

   • « can move two squares horizontally and one vertically (or vice versa) »