2. (a) In feudal times, a man-at-arms serving on horseback and admitted to a certain military rank with special ceremonies, including an oath to protect the distressed, maintain the right, and live a stainless life. (b) One on whom knighthood, a dignity next below that of baronet, is conferred by the sovereign, entitling him to be addressed as Sir; as, Sir John. [ Eng. ] Hence: (c) A champion; a partisan; a lover. “Give this ring to my true knight.” Shak “In all your quarrels will I be your knight.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knights, by their oaths, should right poor ladies' harms. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Formerly, when a knight's name was not known, it was customary to address him as Sir Knight. The rank of a knight is not hereditary. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A piece used in the game of chess, usually bearing a horse's head. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A playing card bearing the figure of a knight; the knave or jack. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Carpet knight. See under Carpet. --
Knight of industry. See Chevalier d'industrie, under Chevalier. --
Knight of Malta,
Knight of Rhodes,
Knight of St. John of Jerusalem. See Hospitaler. --
Knight of the post, one who gained his living by giving false evidence on trials, or false bail; hence, a sharper in general. Nares. “A knight of the post, . . . quoth he, for so I am termed; a fellow that will swear you anything for twelve pence.” Nash. --
Knight of the shire, in England, one of the representatives of a county in Parliament, in distinction from the representatives of cities and boroughs. --
Knights commanders,
Knights grand cross, different classes of the Order of the Bath. See under Bath, and Companion.
Knights of labor, a secret organization whose professed purpose is to secure and maintain the rights of workingmen as respects their relations to their employers. [ U. S. ] --
Knights of Pythias, a secret order, founded in Washington, D. C., in 1864, for social and charitable purposes. --
Knights of the Round Table, knights belonging to an order which, according to the legendary accounts, was instituted by the mythical King Arthur. They derived their common title from the table around which they sat on certain solemn days. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

A soldier, by the honor-giving hand
Of Cœur-de-Lion knighted in the field. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rigid guardian [ i. e., conscience ] of a blameless heart
Is weak with rank knight-erratries o'errun. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

If you needs must write, write Caesar's praise;
You 'll gain at least a knighthood, or the bays. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The whole body of knights. [ 1913 Webster ]

The knighthood nowadays are nothing like the knighthood of old time. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “When the order of knighthood was conferred with full solemnity in the leisure of a court or court or city, imposing preliminary ceremonies were required of the candidate. He prepared himself by prayer and fasting, watched his arms at night in a chapel, and was then admitted with the performance of religious rites. Knighthood was conferred by the accolade, which, from the derivation of the name, would appear to have been originally an embrace; but afterward consisted, as it still does, in a blow of the flat of a sword on the back of the kneeling candidate.” Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

For knightly jousts and fierce encounters fit. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Excuses ] full knightly without scorn. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

And why thou comest thus knightly clad in arms. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Feud. Law) A tenure of lands held by knights on condition of performing military service. See Chivalry, n., 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

By far the greater part of England [ in the 13th century ] is held of the king by knight's service. . . . In order to understand this tenure we must form the conception of a unit of military service. That unit seems to be the service of one knight or fully armed horseman (servitium unius militis) to be done to the king in his army for forty days in the year, if it be called for. . . . The limit of forty days seems to have existed rather in theory than practice. Pollock & Mait. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. Service such as a knight can or should render; hence, good or valuable service. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]