paladin

[ pal-uh-din ]

noun

1. any one of the 12 legendary peers or knightly champions in attendance on Charlemagne.
2. any knightly or heroic champion.
3. any determined advocate or defender of a noble cause.

paladin

/ ˈpælədɪn /

noun

1. one of the legendary twelve peers of Charlemagne's court
2. a knightly champion

Word History and Origins

Origin of paladin¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from French, from Italian paladino, from Late Latin palātīnus “imperial functionary,” noun use of adjective; palatine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of paladin¹

C16: via French from Italian paladino, from Latin palātīnus imperial official, from Palātium Palatine ²

Example Sentences

In the words of Shondo, a professional cage fighter turned Paladin, “It was my fate to embark on this journey.”

From The Daily Beast

He was a swaggerer and behaved as badly as any paladin, but he was not a buffo.

From Project Gutenberg

Faith, a paladin, a deliverer of oppressed damsels, a very carnival masquerader!

From Project Gutenberg

Paladin, pal′a-din, n. one of the twelve peers of Charlemagne's household: a knight-errant, or paragon of knighthood.

From Project Gutenberg

The reply of Chaumont was worthy of a paladin of Ancient France.

From Project Gutenberg

I thought I was looking at the deeds of some modern Paladin, but now it is all accounted for.

From Project Gutenberg