knightly

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   relating to knights, knighthood, or medieval chivalry

   The exhibition includes armor used in knightly tournaments and ceremonies.

2. 2
   adj

   befitting an ideal knight; brave, courteous, and honorable

   His knightly defense of the stranger won the admiration of the court.

From Middle English knyghtly, formed from knight + the adjectival suffix -ly. Knight descends from Old English cniht, originally 'boy, servant, or retainer'; its meaning narrowed in the Middle Ages to an armed mounted warrior and then a member of a chivalric order.

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