palfrey


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Related to palfrey: destrier

pal·frey

 (pôl′frē)
n. pl. pal·freys Archaic
A small saddle horse with a smooth gait, especially as distinguished from a warhorse or a packhorse.

[Middle English, from Old French palefrei, from Medieval Latin palafrēdus, alteration of Late Latin paraverēdus, post horse for secondary routes, extra horse : Greek para, extra, beyond; see per in Indo-European roots + Latin verēdus, post horse (of Celtic origin; see reidh- in Indo-European roots).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

palfrey

(ˈpɔːlfrɪ)
n
(Horse Training, Riding & Manège) archaic a light saddle horse, esp ridden by women
[C12: from Old French palefrei, from Medieval Latin palafredus, from Late Latin paraverēdus, from Greek para beside + Latin verēdus light fleet horse, of Celtic origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pal•frey

(ˈpɔl fri)

n., pl. -freys. Archaic.
1. a riding horse, as distinguished from a war horse.
2. a saddle horse particularly suitable for a woman.
[1200–50; Middle English palefrei < Old French < Late Latin paraverēdus post horse for byways, probably literally, spare horse = Greek para- para-1 + Latin verēdus fast breed of horse < Gaulish < Celtic *woreidos> Welsh gorwydd horse]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.palfrey - especially a light saddle horse for a woman
mount, riding horse, saddle horse - a lightweight horse kept for riding only
archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

palfrey

[ˈpɔːlfrɪ] Npalafrén m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

palfrey

nZelter m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in classic literature ?
Miss Fullilove, the timber- merchant's daughter, was quite sure that if SHE were Miss Penny Palfrey, she would be cautious; it was not a good sign when men looked so much above themselves for a wife.
He thought her prettiness comparable to the loveliest things in confectionery; he judged her to be of submissive temper--likely to wait upon him as well as if she had been a negress, and to be silently terrified when his liver made him irritable; and he considered the Palfrey family quite the best in the parish, possessing marriageable daughters.
Palfrey's receipt for brawn, hers being pronounced on all hands to be superior to his own--as he informed her in a very flattering letter carried by his errand-boy.
"Valiant captain," quoth Peter Palfrey, the Ancient of the band, "what order shall be taken with the prisoners?"
"How many stripes for the priest?" inquired Ancient Palfrey.
The girl raised her riding whip and struck repeatedly but futilely against the iron headgear of her assailant while he swung his horse up the road, and, dragging her palfrey after him, galloped rapidly out of sight.
"Ride, madam," cried Norman of Torn, "for fly I shall not, nor may I, alone, unarmored, and on foot hope more than to momentarily delay these three fellows, but in that time you should easily make your escape--their heavy burdened animals could never o'ertake your fleet palfrey."
The Indian name was Naumkeag.} Peter Palfrey, Roger Conant, and one or two more had built houses there in 1626, and may be considered as the first settlers of that ancient town.
But Soothness pricked on his palfrey and passed them all and came to the King's court, where he told Conscience all about the matter, and Conscience told the King.
He sat perched on a high bay horse, and held on to the bridle of a spirited black palfrey, the hides of both glistening from a long run.
To his surprise she burst out a-laughing, and, spurring her palfrey, dashed off down the glade, with her page riding behind her.
The saddle and housings of this superb palfrey were covered by a long foot-cloth, which reached nearly to the ground, and on which were richly embroidered, mitres, crosses, and other ecclesiastical emblems.