chivalrous

Where does the word "chivalrous" come from? It comes from Late Latin caballus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Chivalrous’s story begins in Late Latin: caballus meant “a horse.” A horse, especially a workhorse. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as chevalier. A horseman, a knight, from cheval (horse, from caballus). It reached English by 1300s as chivalrous. Settled as the English word for behaving with the honor and courtesy of an ideal knight. Today, chivalrous means showing courtesy, honor, and gallantry, especially toward others.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient caballus "a horse", a horse, especially a workhorse.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval chevalier "a horseman, a knight", a horseman, a knight, from cheval (horse, from caballus).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s chivalrous "behaving with the honor and courtesy of an ideal knight", settled as the English word for behaving with the honor and courtesy of an ideal knight.