chevalier

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a knight or chivalrous, courtly gentleman, especially in a historical or literary context

   The romance portrays its young chevalier as brave, courteous, and loyal.

2. 2
   noun

   a member of the lowest rank of French nobility or of certain French orders of knighthood or merit

   The writer was appointed a chevalier of the national order of merit.

Borrowed from French chevalier ('knight'), from Old French chevalier and Late Latin caballarius ('horseman'), based on Latin caballus ('horse'). An earlier form entered Middle English, but the modern English word is largely a later French reborrowing used for knights, French ranks, and members of honorific orders.

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