knight noun A medieval warrior of noble rank who served a king or lord, typically fighting on horseback. The knight pledged his loyalty to the king before riding into battle. + castle noun A large fortified building, typically from medieval times, built to defend against attack and often serving as a noble residence. Tourists lined up to tour the medieval castle overlooking the winding river. + kingdom noun A country or territory ruled by a king or queen, or, more broadly, a distinct realm or domain. The kingdom was ruled by the same royal family for over five centuries. + peasant noun A poor farmer or agricultural worker, especially one from earlier historical periods or traditional rural societies. Medieval peasants worked the land in exchange for protection from the local lord. + serf noun A laborer in medieval Europe who was bound to work on a lord's land and could not leave without permission. The serf owed a portion of his harvest to the lord in exchange for protection and a plot of land. + feudalism noun A medieval social and political system in which lords granted land to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty. Under feudalism, peasants worked the land in exchange for protection from their lord. + chivalry noun Courteous and considerate behavior, especially traditionally polite treatment shown by men toward women. He opened every door for her, a small act of chivalry she always appreciated. + armor noun Protective covering worn or used to defend the body or a vehicle from harm. The knight's armor was so heavy that a squire had to help him mount his horse. + sword noun A weapon with a long metal blade and a handle, used for cutting or thrusting. The knight raised his sword high before entering the grand tournament. + shield noun A broad piece of armor carried to block blows or projectiles, or anything that protects against harm. The knight raised his shield just in time to block the arrow. + joust verb To fight on horseback with a lance against an opponent, typically as a medieval sport or contest. Two knights jousted before the crowd, each trying to unseat the other with a long lance. + tournament noun A competition involving a series of contests among many players or teams to determine an overall winner. The tennis tournament drew top players from around the world. + monastery noun A building or complex where monks live together, following religious vows and a shared way of life. The monks at the monastery rise before dawn to pray in the quiet stone chapel. + monk noun A man who has devoted his life to religious service, typically living in a monastery under vows such as poverty and obedience. The monk woke before dawn each day to pray in the quiet chapel. + nobility noun The class of people holding high social rank, often by birth or title, within a society. The nobility once controlled most of the farmland in the region. + squire noun In medieval times, a young nobleman who served a knight while training to become one himself. The squire polished his knight's armor the night before the tournament. + moat noun A deep, wide ditch, typically filled with water, surrounding a castle or fort as a defense against attack. A drawbridge crossed the moat leading into the ancient castle. + drawbridge noun A bridge that can be raised or lowered, especially one guarding the entrance to a castle or fortress. Guards raised the drawbridge each night to keep the castle safe from intruders. + dungeon noun A dark underground cell or chamber, historically used to imprison people beneath a castle or fortress. The prisoner was locked in a damp dungeon beneath the old castle. + blacksmith noun A person who makes and repairs iron objects, such as tools and horseshoes, by heating and hammering metal. The village blacksmith shaped a new set of horseshoes at his forge. + guild noun An association of people in the same trade or craft, formed to protect their common interests and standards. Medieval stonemasons formed a guild to set standards for their craft and train apprentices. + plague noun A deadly, fast-spreading infectious disease, or an overwhelming and troublesome abundance of something. The plague killed millions of people across Europe during the fourteenth century. + crusade noun A vigorous, sustained campaign to achieve a particular goal, often for moral or social reform. She launched a crusade against plastic waste in her local community. + monarch noun A sovereign head of state, such as a king, queen, or emperor, who typically holds the position for life or by inheritance. The monarch opened Parliament with a traditional speech from the throne. + throne noun An ornate chair used by a monarch or other high-ranking figure on formal occasions. The king sat on his throne to receive foreign visitors. + tapestry noun A heavy woven fabric with pictures or designs, often hung as a decoration, or, figuratively, a rich and varied combination of things. The castle's great hall was lined with medieval tapestries depicting hunting scenes. + pilgrimage noun A journey made to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion or meaningful personal significance. Thousands of pilgrims complete the pilgrimage to Mecca every year during Hajj. + minstrel noun A traveling medieval singer or musician who entertained audiences with songs, poems, and stories. A minstrel performed ballads about brave knights in the castle's great hall. + apprentice noun A person who learns a trade or skill by working under a qualified professional for a set period. At sixteen, he became an apprentice to a local carpenter to learn woodworking. + siege noun A prolonged military operation in which an army surrounds a place to cut off supplies and force it to surrender. The city endured a brutal siege that lasted nearly a year before it fell. +