Etymology Map
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Knight

2 stages from Old English to English.

Today it means a medieval mounted soldier; a man given a non-hereditary title

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

1
Stage 1 of 2
cniht
Old English · medieval
"boy, servant"
'boy, servant, attendant'; German Knecht still means 'servant, farmhand'
2
Stage 2 of 2
knight
English · 1100s
"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
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Read the full story

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.