Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “chivalrous” come from?

Chivalrous comes from Old French chevalerous, meaning valiant or knightly, ultimately derived from cheval, horse.

chivalrous (English): Honourable, especially to women; gallant;...

Definitions

  1. Honourable, especially to women; gallant;...

Ancestry of “chivalrous”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishchivalerous—
2Old Frenchchevalerous—

Words derived from “chivalrous”

  • chivalrously
  • unchivalrous
  • chivalrousness
  • unchivalrously
  • unchivalrousness
Every word from Old French chevalerous →