What does "chivalry" mean?
Chivalry: The dignity or system of knighthood; the spirit, usages, or manners of knighthood; the practice of knight-errantry. Dryden.
Additional senses
- 2.The qualifications or character of knights, as valor, dexterity in arms, courtesy, etc. The glory of our Troy this day doth lie On his fair worth and single chivalry. Shak.
- 3.(Eng. Law) A tenure of lands by knight's service; that is, by the condition of a knight's performing service on horseback, or of performing some noble or military service to his lord.
- 4.Exploit. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney. Court of chivalry, a court formerly held before the lord high constable and earl marshal of England as judges, having cognizance of contracts and other matters relating to deeds of arms and war. Blackstone.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00