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steed

/stid/
/stid/
IPA guide

Other forms: steeds

A steed is horse used for riding. In adventure stories set in the Middle Ages, knights are always galloping around on their trusty steeds.

The noun steed is a very old-fashioned way to say "horse." In Middle English, a steed was distinguished as "a great horse," as opposed to a palfrey, an ordinary, everyday horse. So a steed was typically a war horse that carried warriors into battle. Since the 16th century, this word has primarily been used in literary contexts.

Definitions of steed
  1. noun
    (literary) a spirited horse for state or war
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    type of:
    warhorse
    horse used in war
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