destrier

1 9.9

A large strong horse that knights ride into battle or tournaments

noun
/ˈdɛstrɪər/

Archaic

: destrier

The knight mounted his destrier, ready to charge into battle against his opponents.

Examples

If we say the word destrier, what do you think of a War Horse, right?
Destrier has always served me well.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
Here was General Vian on a blood bay destrier, leading a charge against a phalanx of demons.

Fiction book (2001)
During the tournament, the nobleman showed off his finest destrier to impress the crowd.
As the army approached, the sound of the destriers seemed to shake the ground beneath them.

Synonyms

steed

vsdestrier

Archaic

17 9.6

A strong, fast horse used for riding in battle

is a more specific armored combat mount used by medieval knights

charger

vsdestrier

Archaic

7 9.9

A strong fast horse that knights ride into battle

is heavier and linked to knightly warfare and tournaments rather than speed

warhorse

vsdestrier

1 9.0

A strong horse trained to carry soldiers into battle

is specific to knights in the Middle Ages and used in tournaments

courser

vsdestrier

Archaic

9.9

A strong fast horse used in battle or hunting long ago

is primarily for heavy knight combat and tournament use rather than hunting

How Strong

destrier

Archaic

1 9.9

charger

Archaic

7 9.9

riding horse

1 2.3

Surface Forms

destrier singular

destriers plural

Etymology

Destrier comes from a medieval word tied to Latin dexter, which means 'right'. Knights kept their best horse at their 'right' side as the main fighting mount, so a destrier became the powerful 'right-hand' warhorse used in battle.