palfrey

Meaning

Noun

• A small horse with a smooth, ambling gait, popular in the Middle Ages with nobles and women for riding (contrasted with a warhorse).

Origin

• From Middle English palfrey, from Anglo-Norman palefrei ("steed"), from Old French palefroi, from Late Latin paraverēdus ("post horse, spare horse"), from Ancient Greek παρά+ Latin verēdus ("post horse"), from Gaulish *werēdos ("horse") (compare Welsh gorwydd ("horse")), from Proto-Celtic *uɸorēdos ("horse"). prad. Compare Dutch paard and German Pferd.