C12: from Old French palefrei, from Medieval Latin palafredus, from Late Latin paraverēdus, from Greek para beside + Latin verēdus light fleet horse, of Celtic origin
palfrey in American English
(ˈpɔlfri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈpalfreys
Archaic
a saddle horse, esp. a gentle one for a woman
Word origin
ME < OFr palefrei < ML palafredus, for LL paraveredus, extra post horse < Gr para, beside + L veredus, post horse < Gaul *voredos (akin to Welsh gorwydd, horse) < *vo-, down, away (< IE *wo- < base *au-, *awē) + *-redos < IE base *reidh- > ride
Examples of 'palfrey' in a sentence
palfrey
She paused uncertainly before the stall of his chestnut palfrey, and then moved towards the far door, out into the stable yard.
Penman, Sharon HERE BE DRAGONS (2004)
I eat very little and I can ride pillion behind one of your men if you can't spare me a palfrey.
Julian May IRONCROWN MOON: PART TWO OF THE BOREAL MOON TALE (2004)