Emily Dickinson Lexicon

KNIGHT, n. [nite. Sax. cniht, cneoht, a boy, a servant, Ir. cniocht, G. knecht, D. knegt, Sw. knecht, Dan. knegt.]

1. Originally, a knight was a youth, and young men being employed as servants, hence it came to signify a servant. But among our warlike ancestors, the word was particularly applied to a young man after he was admitted to the privilege of bearing arms. The admission to this privilege was a ceremony of great importance, and was the origin of the institution of knighthood. Hence, in feudal times, a knight was a man admitted to military rank by a certain ceremony. This privilege was conferred on youths of family and fortune, and hence sprung the honorable title of knight, in modern usage. A knight has the title of Sir. Encyc. Johnson.
2. A pupil or follower. Shak.
3. A champion. Drayton. Knight of the post, a knight dubbed at the whipping-post or pillory; a hireling witness. Johnson. Knight of the shire, in England, one of the representatives of a county in parliament, originally a knight, but now any gentleman having an estate in land of six hundred pound a year is qualified. Johnson.