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palfrey

 - 3 dictionary results

pal⋅frey

[pawl-free]
–noun, plural -freys.
1. a riding horse, as distinguished from a war horse.
2. a saddle horse particularly suitable for a woman.

Origin:
1200–50; ME palefrei < OF < LL paraverēdus post horse for byways, prob. lit., spare horse, equiv. to Gk para- para- 1 + L verēdus fast breed of horse < Gaulish < Celtic *woreidos (> Welsh gorwydd horse, charger), equiv. to *wo- under (< *upo-; cf. hypo- ) + *reid-, base of OIr réidid (he) rides, réid level, smooth, easy, Welsh rhwydd easy; see ride


palfreyed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pal·frey   (pôl'frē)   
n.   pl. pal·freys Archaic
A saddle horse, especially one for a woman to ride.

[Middle English, from Old French palefrei, from Medieval Latin palafrēdus, alteration of Late Latin paraverēdus, post horse for secondary routes, extra horse : Greek para, extra, beyond; see per1 in Indo-European roots + Latin verēdus, post horse (of Celtic origin; see reidh- in Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

palfrey 
1148, "saddle horse for ordinary riding (opposed to a war horse), small horse for ladies," from O.Fr. palefrei (11c.), from M.L. palafredus, alt. by dissimilation from L.L. paraveredus "post horse for outlying districts" (6c.), originally "extra horse," from Gk. para "beside, secondary" + L. veredus "post horse; light, fast horse used by couriers," from Gaul. *voredos (cf. Welsh gorwydd "horse," O.Ir. riadaim "I ride"). The L. word passed to O.H.G. as pfarifrid, where in modern Ger. it has become the usual word for "horse" (pferd).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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