Knight: A mounted man-at-arms of medieval Europe, who served a king or other feudal superior, usually in return for the tenure of a tract of land, but sometimes for pay, as a mercenary. The knight was generally a man of noble birth who had served in the lower ranks as page and squire before being ceremoniously inducted into knighthood by his superior. At his induction the knight usually swore to be brave,loyal, courteous and to protect the defenseless. The English word knight comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for servant. This showed that in the Early Middle Ages most knights were peasants, not of noble birth. In Germany knights were called Ritters, this word meaning ride. In other countries they were known as Cabarello, Cavalier, or Chevalier, all these words meaning horse.