knight-errant
Roaming medieval warrior
A knight-errant was a medieval knight who wandered in search of adventures—rescuing maidens, slaying dragons, righting wrongs.
The term now applies to anyone who acts as a self-appointed champion of causes or people in distress, often with a romantic or quixotic air: He fancied himself a knight-errant, defending the powerless against corporate greed.
Plural: knights-errant.
Sacred sought-after vessel
- crusadeZealous effort for change
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- odysseyExtended adventurous journey
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
venture · mission · adventure · saga · undertaking · pursuit · campaign · errantry
High regard, moral dignity
- gallantryCourage, especially in combat
- valorCourage in danger
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- nobilityTitled ruling class
virtue · protector · altruism · fealty · loyalty · jousting · tournament · code
Protective combat covering
- castleFortified medieval residence
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
- joustMounted lance combat
- lanceLong thrusting weapon
squire · tournament · vassal · manor · noble · battlement · chainmail · heraldry
Foolishly impractical romantic
- PercivalGrail-seeking knight
- GalahadIdeal of noble purity
- ArthurianOf Camelot's mythology
- romanceLove and its excitement
Lancelot · Gawain · chanson · epic · legend · paladin · protagonist · archetype
grail
Sacred sought-after vessel
- crusadeZealous effort for change
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- odysseyExtended adventurous journey
pilgrimage · venture · mission · adventure · saga · undertaking · pursuit · campaign · errantry · rescue
honor
High regard, moral dignity
- gallantryCourage, especially in combat
- valorCourage in danger
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
nobility · virtue · protector · altruism · fealty · loyalty · jousting · tournament · code · duty
armor
Protective combat covering
- castleFortified medieval residence
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
- joustMounted lance combat
lance · squire · tournament · vassal · manor · noble · battlement · chainmail · heraldry · palfrey
Quixote
Foolishly impractical romantic
Lancelot · Gawain · romance · chanson · epic · legend · paladin · protagonist · archetype · paragon
courtly
Refined and dignified
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
- troubadourMedieval Provençal lyric poet
- minstrelTraveling performer of songs
sonnet · damsel · ladylove · serenade · ballad · devotion · wooing · chaste · idealized · unrequited
itinerant
Moving for work
pilgrim · rambler · traveler · journeyer · peripatetic · footloose · roaming · homeless · masterless · solitary
- chivalric romancequests, Lancelot, chivalry, Gawain, King Arthur
- Don QuixoteDon Quixote, Sancho Panza, Rocinante, La Mancha, tilting at windmills
- Quixote ThemesDon Quixote, Sancho Panza, Cervantes, idealism, madness
- heroeshero, heroes, heroine, heroines, superhero
- Arthurian romanceKing Arthur, Lancelot, Gawain, Guinevere, Camelot
knight-errantfeudal lord
Land-granting medieval ruler
liege lord · homebody · vassal · landed gentry · stay-at-home
knight-errantmercenary
Soldier fighting for pay
sellsword · soldier of fortune · brigand · freebooter · marauder
knight-errantliegeman
Feudal subject owing allegiance
retainer · king's man · man-at-arms · bondsman · serf
knight, errant, knights, knighted, knightly, knighting, knighthood, knight errant