bachelor-at-arms
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A knight of the lowest rank in medieval times: A
bachelor-at-armswas a young knight who served under the banner of a more senior knight or lord. He was not yet wealthy or powerful enough to lead his own retinue. - A knight entitled to bear only a pennon: The distinguishing feature of a
bachelor-at-armswas that he was permitted to carry only a small, triangular flag (a pennon) on his lance, unlike a knight banneret who could display a square banner.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The young squire aspired to become a bachelor-at-arms before earning his own estate.
- In the procession, the bachelor-at-arms carried his pennon proudly.
Advanced Usage
- The term is historical and primarily used in the context of medieval chivalry and feudal military organization.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe a novice or junior member in any hierarchical organization, though this is rare.
Variants and Related Words
- Knight Bachelor (n): The modern British honorific title is the direct descendant of this medieval rank, though without the original military connotations.
- Banneret (n): A knight of higher rank who could lead men under his own banner, often contrasted with a .
- Pennon (n): The small, pointed flag carried by a .
Synonyms
- Young knight
- Knight errant (in the sense of a knight wandering in search of adventure, often of lower status)
Notes
- The term is archaic and not used in contemporary language outside of historical discussion.
- It is a compound noun, but its meaning is specific to the historical rank and is treated as a single lexical unit.
Noun
- a knight of the lowest order; could display only a pennon