Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Knicht-, Knychthed(e, -heid(e, n. Also: knight-, knyght- and -heyd, -head, knichted, knychted(e. [North. and midl. ME. knighthed(e (Cursor M.): cf. Knichthade,n.] Knighthood.

1. The rank or calling of a knight. 1408 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 69.
At Homyldoun qwen he gefe me the ordre of knychthed 1456 Hay I.42/16.
The knychtis tuke the name of knychthede of that word mille Ib. 293/14.
Knychthede may be in all kingis and emperouris, dukkis and erllis a1500 Rauf C. 960.
Schir Rauf gat rewaird to keip his knichtheid a1500 Lanc. 821.
He goith ymong them in his hie curage, As he that had of knyghthed the wsage 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 240.
A takin of honour … as giltyn spurris in knychtheid c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 93.
Mahoun … thame of knychtheid did depryff, Discharging thame all weir 1549 Compl. 148/13.
There is diuerse princis that gyffis the tryumphe of knychted and nobilite Ib. /16, 18.
The empriour makkis the ordur of knychthed of the fleise … the kyng of Ingland makkis the ordour of knychthede of the gartan a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 395.
Prince Charlis … was … honorat be the ordor of knychtheid and Order of the Garten c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 146.
The major generall … was thought … most worthie of the honour of knighthead, … and this he receaued from the hands of the generall

b. Applied to classical or biblical society: cf. Knicht n. 1 b. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 1093.
Mony knychtis thar erroure … Left, & thar knichthed [L. militiam] alswa Ib. xvi. 70.
To knychthed hyre bruthir Laȝare Halely hyme gafe c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1815.
Pallamydes … flurisand in-to knychthed c1420 Wynt. v. 3540.
As hym behowyd on nede Tyll lewe Crystyndome or knychthede

2. The character or accomplishments befitting a knight; knightly deeds; chivalry, chivalrousness. b. Applied to classical heroes. ?1438 Alex. ii. 24.
Ane romains … Of knicht-heid and of cheualry 1456 Hay II. 26/11.
Knychthede and hardynesse may never langsumly dwell togider bot wisedome Ib. 66/9.
The instructioun of knychthede till his barnis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 376.
Thai war courtes and couth thair knyghthed to kyth Ib. 1135.
The flour of knighthede is caught throu his cruelte c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 69.
The sueird of conquis, and of knychtheid keyn, Be borne suld highe before thé 1535 Stewart 17880.
Constantius this nobill emprioure, Suppois he was of all knychtheid the floure 15.. Clar. i. 38.
In thrist of knichtheid birnand lyke a fyreb. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1254.
Vlixes, waunting in deid All worschipe of worthy knychtheid [L. milicie] 1513 Doug. vi. vi. 39.
Eneas full of piete and knychthed [L. pietate insignis et armis] Ib. ix. xii. 118.
[To] discryve Men and stedis, knychthed, wer and stryve

3. collect. a. The order of knights collectively. b. (Rendering L. milites or militia), A company of fighting men, an army or host.a. 1456 Hay II. 33/18.
Knychthede suld defend all injuris and wrangis, … ; quhilkis, gif thai do nocht [etc.]b. a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 68.
A knycht callit Placydas prynce of his knychted was [L. magister militum] Ib. 668.
Thai … prince of knich[t]ed hyme mad Ib. 801.
Scho went in sped To the gret maister of the knychtede c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke ii. 13.]
[A multitude of heuenlie knichthede [P. -hod]