destrier

[ des-tree-er, de-streer ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. a warhorse; charger.

destrier

/ ˈdɛstrɪə /

noun

1. an archaic word for warhorse

Word History and Origins

Origin of destrier¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English destrer, from Anglo-French, variant of Old French destrier, literally, “(horse) led at the right hand,” from unrecorded Vulgar Latin dextrārius (equus), equivalent to Latin dext(e)r “right-hand” ( dexter ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of destrier¹

C13: from Old French, from destre right hand, from Latin dextra; from the fact that a squire led a knight's horse with his right hand

Example Sentences

Prizes were not given to the participants by the hosts, but taken from rival competitors after they were incapacitated in the form of his arms, armor or prized destrier; in many cases, a competitor himself was taken captive and ransomed for a hefty sum.

From Salon

One destrier broke an ankle trying to walk in them.

From Literature

Lord Tytos Blackwood met him in the outer ward, mounted on a destrier as gaunt as himself.

From Literature

He was mounted on an armored destrier and had donned his plate and mail, and a grey steel greathelm with a horsehair crest.

From Literature

As they closed to either side, the blue knight reined hard, smashing one man full in the face with his splintered shield while his black destrier lashed out with a steel-shod hoof at the other.

From Literature