Here's a breakdown of its linguistic origins:
* "Cheval": Means "horse" in Old French.
* "-erie": A suffix indicating "state of being" or "quality of".
So, "chevalerie" literally means "the state of being a horseman". Over time, it evolved to encompass the ideal code of conduct for knights, which included concepts like courage, honor, loyalty, and courtesy.
Therefore, the term "chivalry" has roots in the medieval practice of knighthood and the importance of equestrian skills in warfare.