Late 16th century (denoting a ride or raid on horseback): from French, from Italian cavalcata, from cavalcare 'to ride', based on Latin caballus 'horse'.

• chivalry from Middle English:

  The word chivalry springs from the fact that a knight rode a horse. Chivalry came into English from medieval Latin caballerius, which was based on Latin caballus ‘horse’. Cavalry (mid 16th century), cavalier (mid 16th century), and cavalcade (late 16th century) come from the same Latin word. In its early use chivalry could describe knights, noblemen, and horsemen collectively, as in ‘The eleven kings with their chivalry never turned back’ wrote Thomas Malory (1405–1471) in Le Morte D'Arthur (1485). Later it came to refer to the qualities associated with an ideal knight, especially courage, honour, loyalty, and courtesy.