paladin
/pal-uh-din/ IPA: /ˈpælədɪn/
Noun
1. a knight, champion, or hero
2. a defender of a specific cause
3. any of the Twelve Peers of Charlemagne's court, King of the Franks and Emperor of the Romans in the 9th century A.D.
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| Imperial Palace on Palatine Hill, modern day Rome |
Origin: Entered English in 1592, from Middle French paladin and Italian paladino. Ultimately derives from the Latin word Palatium, which refers to Palatine Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome and the hill on which Romulus supposedly founded the city of Rome. Palatine Hill is also where the Roman Emperor's Imperial Palace was situated. Paladin finds its etymological roots here because it refers those who are "of the Emperor", specifically the brave heroes who defended the Roman Empire and protected the Emperor. Paladin was originally used to describe Charlemagne's peers in the 9th century, however by virtue of broadening, the term has come to refer to any chivalrous or brave hero.
Notes: Paladin is the name of the main character on the TV show Have Gun - Will Travel, an American Western that aired from 1957-1963. Paladin is also the athletic mascot for Furman University.
Quote of the Day: "A man who cannot choose ceases to be a man." - Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange (1962)
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