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

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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 1456 Ib. 293/14.
Knychthede may be in all kingis and emperouris, dukkis and erllis a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 960.
Schir Rauf gat rewaird to keip his knichtheid a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 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 Complaynte of Scotland 148/13.
There is diuerse princis that gyffis the tryumphe of knychted and nobilite 1549 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 Legends of the Saints ii. 1093.
Mony knychtis thar erroure … Left, & thar knichthed [L. militiam] alswa a1400 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 1456 Ib. 66/9.
The instructioun of knychthede till his barnis a1500 Golagros and Gawane 376.
Thai war courtes and couth thair knyghthed to kyth a1500 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.. Clariodus 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] 1513 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 Legends of the Saints xxix. 68.
A knycht callit Placydas prynce of his knychted was [L. magister militum] a1400 Ib. 668.
Thai … prince of knich[t]ed hyme mad a1400 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]