knighthood
n.n. a high honor given to someone for their great service to a country. It is a title that shows great respect and is usually given by a king or queen.
n. a high honor or title of nobility conferred upon a person by a monarch for distinguished service to the state. Often used to describe the status or the formal ceremony of being made a knight.
He was awarded a knighthood for his work in medicine.
The prime minister announced that the scientist would receive a knighthood during the New Year's Honours list.
While the title of knighthood carries significant historical weight, its modern recipients are often celebrated for their contributions to the arts, sciences, or public service rather than for military valor.
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.