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What is "court of chivalry"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Court of chivalry

Chivalry \Chiv"al*ry\, n. [F. chevalerie, fr. chevalier knight, OF., horseman. See Chevalier, and cf. Cavalry.]

  1. A body or order of cavaliers or knights serving on horseback; illustrious warriors, collectively; cavalry. ``His Memphian chivalry.''
    --Milton.

    By his light Did all the chivalry of England move, To do brave acts.
    --Shak.

  2. The dignity or system of knighthood; the spirit, usages, or manners of knighthood; the practice of knight-errantry.
    --Dryden.

  3. The qualifications or character of knights, as valor, dexterity in arms, courtesy, etc.

    The glory of our Troy this day doth lie On his fair worth and single chivalry.
    --Shak.

  4. (Eng. Law) A tenure of lands by knight's service; that is, by the condition of a knight's performing service on horseback, or of performing some noble or military service to his lord.

  5. Exploit. [Obs.]
    --Sir P. Sidney.

    Court of chivalry, a court formerly held before the lord high constable and earl marshal of England as judges, having cognizance of contracts and other matters relating to deeds of arms and war.
    --Blackstone.

Usage examples of "court of chivalry".

It was not until nearly a fortnight after the decision of the Court of Chivalry had been rendered that the King announced the time and place of battle--the time to be the 3d of September, the place to be Smithfield--a spot much used for such encounters.

At the barriers he was met by the attorney Willingwood, the chief lawyer who had conducted the Falworth case before the High Court of Chivalry, and who was to attend him during the administration of the oaths before the King.