bayard

generic or mock-heroic name for a horse, c.1374, from O.Fr. Baiard, name of the bay-colored magic steed given by Charlemagne to Renaud in the legends, from O.Fr. baiart "bay-colored" (see bay (4)). The name was also used attributively of gentlemen of courage and integrity, from Pierre du Terrail, seigneur de Bayard (1473-1524), Fr. knight celebrated as Chevalier sans peur et sans reproche, however the meaning deteriorated in later times till it came to denote blind recklessness and actual blindness. The surname is perhaps in reference to hair color.