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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Knichtly, Knychtly, a. and adv. Also: knight-, knyght- and -ly(e, -li(e. [ME. kniȝtli, knyhtly, knightlich; (OE. cnihtlíc, boyish).] Knightly.

1. Of persons: Having the qualities of a knight, noble, valiant. a1500 Bk. Chess 1151.
This knychtly man To counsall gaif to lat thir folk still ly 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 124.
The greit Lordis of Parliament, With mony knychtlie barroun and banrent 15.. Clar. iv. 983.
To be judge quha provit knightliest

2. Of things, actions, qualities: Of, pertaining to or befitting, a knight; noble. Also fig.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 386.
Sancte George … his knychtly clething … gef away 1513 Doug. viii. iii. 167.
Ane garmond he me gaue, or knychtly weid(2) a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 519.
For knichtlie pietie and memoriall Of fair Cresseid a1500 Bk. Chess 850.
The … knychtlye reuerens Is for his vertew … Nocht for his hors c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 59.
O vailyeant Arthur, in knyghtli vassalage! Ib. liv. 22.
Quhai in felde … tynis his knychtlie name 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 44.
Thar suld na knyght reid bot a knychtly taill 1531 Bell. Boece I. 247.
Tornamentis, warsling, and othir knichtly exercitioun 1535 Stewart 7103.
Tha kingis did meit … With fair having, and knichtlie countenance 15.. Clar. ii. 910.
Ȝone is the knichtliest sicht … that ever I saw with ey a1578 Pitsc. I. 256/31.
That he wald recompence hir … witht sum of his knyghtlie support … that is to say that he wald raise hir airme [= army] 1585 James VI Ess. 67.
Martiall and knichtly faittis of armes(3) fig. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1544.
Haue knychtlie corage to conques hevinlie crovne

3. adv. In knightly fashion, as becomes a knight, nobly, valiantly. a1500 Lanc. 618.
Rather I shall knychtly in to feild Resaue my deith c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 60.
Thus knychtly he him quitt 15.. Clar. ii. 924.
Full knichtlie com thir men of armis cleir Ib. iv. 1027.
Knightlie and fair the justing they begane