noun
palfrey
PAL-free/pˈælfri/
A gentle horse used for everyday riding.
The gentle palfrey walks along the country path in a light saddle.
Etymology
“Secondary” and “post horse” originally described an extra horse used for postal travel in outlying districts. The word later named a saddle horse for ordinary riding, rather than a war horse.
In context
“There was a devil of a yellow horse,” said he. “My poor palfrey went over like a skittle-pin before a ball.
More examples
- The traveler chooses a palfrey instead of a warhorse.
- Two palfreys wait outside the inn.
- She rides her palfrey to the village each morning.
Forms
palfrey · palfreys