King vs. Knight — What's the Difference?

A male monarch of a major territorial unit; especially : one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life.

A man honored by a sovereign for merit and ranked next below a baronet.

A person or thing preeminent in its class.

A person devoted to the service of a lady as her attendant or champion.

The chief authority over a country and people.

A member of an order or society.

The principal piece of each color in chess.

A mounted soldier serving under a feudal superior in the Middle Ages.

A playing card bearing the picture of a king.

A chess piece, usually shaped like a horse's head, that moves in an L-shape.

King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.

A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity.Knighthood finds origins in the Greek hippeis and hoplite (ἱππεῖς) and Roman eques and centurion of classical antiquity.In the Early Middle Ages in Europe, knighthood was conferred upon mounted warriors. During the High Middle Ages, knighthood was considered a class of lower nobility.

A male sovereign.

A medieval tenant giving military service as a mounted man-at-arms to a feudal landholder.

One that is supreme or preeminent in a particular group, category, or sphere

A medieval gentleman-soldier, usually high-born, raised by a sovereign to privileged military status after training as a page and squire.

A man chosen as the winner of a contest or the honorary head of an event

A man holding a nonhereditary title conferred by a sovereign in recognition of personal merit or service to the country.

Abbr. K A playing card bearing the figure of a king, ranking above a queen.

A man belonging to an order or brotherhood.

Abbr. K The principal chess piece, which can move one square in any direction and must be protected against checkmate.

A defender, champion, or zealous upholder of a cause or principle.

A piece in checkers that has been moved to the last row on the opponent's side of the board and been crowned, thus becoming free to move both forward and backward.

The devoted champion of a lady.

Kings(used with a sing. verb) See Table at Bible.

Abbr. Kt or N(Games) A chess piece, usually in the shape of a horse's head, that can be moved two squares along a rank and one along a file or two squares along a file and one along a rank. The knight is the only piece that can jump other pieces to land on an open square.

A king-size bed.

To raise (a person) to knighthood.

Principal or chief, as in size or importance.

(historical) A young servant or follower; a trained military attendant in service of a lord.

Of or relating to a king-size bed

(historical) A minor nobleman with an honourable military rank who had served as a page and squire.

To make (a piece in checkers) into a king; crown.

(by extension) An armored and mounted warrior of the Middle Ages.

A male monarch; a man who heads a monarchy. If it is an absolute monarchy, then he is the supreme ruler of his nation.

A person obliged to provide knight service in exchange for maintenance of an estate held in knight's fee.

A powerful or majorly influential person.

(modern) A person on whom a knighthood has been conferred by a monarch.

Something that has a preeminent position.

(literary) A brave, chivalrous and honorable man devoted to a noble cause or love interest.

A component of certain games.

(chess) A chess piece, often in the shape of a horse's head, that is moved two squares in one direction and one at right angles to that direction in a single move, leaping over any intervening pieces.

(chess) The principal chess piece, that players seek to threaten with unavoidable capture to result in a victory by checkmate. It is often the tallest piece, with a symbolic crown with a cross at the top.

A playing card bearing the figure of a knight; the knave or jack.

(card games) A playing card with the letter "K" and the image of a king on it, the thirteenth card in a given suit.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Ypthima.

A checker (a piece of checkers/draughts) that reached the farthest row forward, thus becoming crowned (either by turning it upside-down, or by stacking another checker on it) and gaining more freedom of movement.

(modern) Any mushroom belonging to genus Tricholoma.

The central pin or skittle in bowling games.

(transitive) To confer knighthood upon.

A king skin.

To promote (a pawn) to a knight.

A male dragonfly; a drake.

A young servant or follower; a military attendant.

A king-sized bed.

In feudal times, a man-at-arms serving on horseback and admitted to a certain military rank with special ceremonies, including an oath to protect the distressed, maintain the right, and live a stainless life.

(graph theory) A vertex in a directed graph which can reach every other vertex via a path with a length of at most 2.

A piece used in the game of chess, usually bearing a horse's head.

To crown king, to make (a person) king.

A playing card bearing the figure of a knight; the knave or jack.

To rule over as king.

To dub or create (one) a knight; - done in England by the sovereign only, who taps the kneeling candidate with a sword, saying: Rise, Sir --.

To perform the duties of a king.

Originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

To assume or pretend preeminence (over); to lord it over.

A chessman in the shape of a horse's head; can move two squares horizontally and one vertically (or vice versa)

To promote a piece of draughts/checkers that has traversed the board to the opposite side, that piece subsequently being permitted to move backwards as well as forwards.

Raise (someone) to knighthood;

To dress and perform as a drag king.

A Chinese musical instrument, consisting of resonant stones or metal plates, arranged according to their tones in a frame of wood, and struck with a hammer.

A chief ruler; a sovereign; one invested with supreme authority over a nation, country, or tribe, usually by hereditary succession; a monarch; a prince.

One who, or that which, holds a supreme position or rank; a chief among competitors; as, a railroad king; a money king; the king of the lobby; the king of beasts.

A playing card having the picture of a king{1}; as, the king of diamonds.

The chief piece in the game of chess.

A crowned man in the game of draughts.

The title of two historical books in the Old Testament.

To supply with a king; to make a king of; to raise to royalty.

A male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

A competitor who holds a preeminent position

A very wealthy or powerful businessman;

Preeminence in a particular category or group or field;

United States woman tennis player (born in 1943)

United States guitar player and singer of the blues (born in 1925)

United States charismatic civil rights leader and Baptist minister who campaigned against the segregation of Blacks (1929-1968)

A checker that has been moved to the opponent's first row where it is promoted to a piece that is free to move either forward or backward

One of the four playing cards in a deck bearing the picture of a king

(chess) the weakest but the most important piece

Kings usually reside in palaces or castles, signifying their status and role, while knights may live in manor houses or smaller castles granted to them by the sovereign.

Kings are often educated in governance, law, and diplomacy from an early age. Knights receive training primarily in warfare, strategy, and sometimes in courtly manners.

It is rare and usually not traditional for a knight to become a king unless through marriage or extraordinary circumstances such as conquest or popular acclaim.

Kings operate within monarchies that can be absolute or constitutional. Knights function within feudal systems where loyalty and military service are pivotal.

Kings provide leadership, make laws, and shape the political landscape, while knights defend the realm, enforce laws locally, and maintain order.

Knights serve as part of the king’s retinue, providing military and sometimes administrative support, while kings grant titles, lands, and missions to knights.

Historical kings like Henry VIII and Louis XIV had immense influence over national and international policies. Knights such as Sir Lancelot or Sir William Marshal are celebrated for individual valor and specific heroic deeds.

Kings have dynastic responsibilities, needing to secure succession and alliances through marriage. Knights focus on managing their estates and providing for their immediate family.

Kings are prepared for leadership and statecraft from a young age, often through formal education and advisory roles. Knights undergo rigorous physical training and learn combat skills.

Kings are often associated with crowns, scepters, and thrones, symbolizing their authority and governance. Knights are associated with armor, swords, and shields, reflecting their martial roles.

Kings are seen as overarching leaders whose decisions impact the entire country, while knights are often romanticized as heroic figures of valor and honor.

Kings typically reign until death or abdication, while knights can retire from active duty, often retaining their titles and continuing to manage their lands.

Kings have coronations, where they are formally crowned. Knights have knighting ceremonies, where they are bestowed their title often with a ceremonial dubbing.

Kings receive revenue from the entire realm, including taxes and tributes, whereas knights might be granted lands that provide them with income.

Kings have the authority to make and change laws, bestow pardons, and declare war. Knights have limited judicial powers, primarily in local disputes and minor legal matters.