?c1425 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Royal 17 D.vi) (1860) 82 Of such unknyghtly trikkes he not wolde.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 535 Sir Palomydes shall repente hit, as in hys unknyghtly delynge so for to folow that noble knyght that I be mysfortune hurte.

c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) lv (MED) That unknyghtly dede Quhare was fro the bereft thy maidenhede.

1586 J. Ferne Blazon of Gentrie 161 Lewes..had so vnknightlye a regarde..of Armes, that [etc.].

1674 S. Butler Hudibras (new ed.) ii. i. 269 I here..free you from the Unknightly Jayle.

1745 W. Shenstone Let. 28 Nov. in Select Lett. Duchess of Somerset & Others (1778) I. v. 15 Considering the Politeness and Complaisance of your obliging Letter, my Behaviour since must appear the most unknightly of all Proceedings.

1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth viii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 213 The unknightly advantage which yonder rascal had taken of his stumbling horse.

1860 T. P. Thompson Audi Alteram Partem (1861) III. cxlii. 123 A foreign force..threatening to sack, unless unknightly and degrading terms were complied with.

1912 Mod. Philol. 10 72 Guillaume de Montauban's seemingly unknightly act..which brought about the discomfiture of the English.

1960 P. Anderson High Crusade vi. 51 Most of his followers had no scruples about unknightly weapons; they eked out blade, mace, and morningstar with handguns from the ships.

2012 Arthuriana 22 111 Noticeably silent about Gasozein's unknightly and uncourtly conduct.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. iii. sig. Bb6^v Vnknightly Knight,..Loe I defie thee. View more context for this quotation

1694 Athenian Mercury 8 Dec. A most unknightly Squire.

a1777 J. White Adventures John of Gaunt (1790) III. xxviii. 134 The rovers of that unknightly barbarian seized her as she walked upon the shores of her paternal island.

1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II (ed. 4) Add. Pref. p. x Add., It has been stated, that..he is very unknightly, as the times of the Knights were times of love, honour, and so forth.

1919 N.Y. Times 18 Aug. 10/6 The order of knights has no room in it for such unknightly men.

2009 Daily Mail (Nexis) 11 Sept. All this chivalry had nothing to do with the unknightly Celts.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 2766 Þis Achilles..þouȝt pleynly, it shuld him nat asterte To shewe his malys..Ful vnknyȝtly to be more vengable Vp-on þe body þat lay ded and colde.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 739 (MED) Many knyghtes..seyde hyt was unknyghtly done in a turnemente to kylle an horse wylfully.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xviii. sig. Tt1 They helde playe against the rest, though the two brothers vnknightly helped them.

1594 L. Lewkenor tr. O. de la Marche Resolued Gentleman f. 41 His Lance,..neuer therewith vnskilfully failing or vnknightly breaking a crosse.

1624 E. Bolton Nero Caesar xxxviii. 258 Hee would not vnknightly yeeld to goe vngirt, though it were vpon condition, to receiue the diadem of Armenia.

1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 84 The brute Earl.., unknightly with flat hand, however lightly, smote her on the cheek.