knight

Where does the word "knight" come from? It comes from Old English cniht, and was adopted directly into English (1100s).

Knight’s story begins in Old English: cniht meant “boy, servant.” 'boy, servant, attendant'; German Knecht still means 'servant, farmhand'. It reached English by 1100s as knight. After 1066 it was applied to the mounted military servants of Norman lords and rose to a title of honour; the silent k shows it was once pronounced, like German Knecht. Today, knight means a medieval mounted soldier; a man given a non-hereditary title.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · medieval cniht "boy, servant", 'boy, servant, attendant'; German Knecht still means 'servant, farmhand'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1100s knight "armoured mounted warrior", after 1066 it was applied to the mounted military servants of Norman lords and rose to a title of honour; the silent k shows it was once pronounced, like German Knecht.