knighthood

noun

Etymology: From Middle English knyghthode, knyȝthod, from Old English cnihthād, from Proto-West Germanic *knehtahaidu, equivalent to knight + -hood. Cognate with Dutch knechtheid, dialectal German Knechtheit.

1. An honour whereby one is made into a knight, and whereafter one is entitled to be called Sir.

   “the knighthood of Sir [So-and-So]”

   “He's got an OBE and MBE, and his recent work should entitle him to a knighthood.”

2. The quality of being a knight.
3. The knights collectively, the body of knights.