a French term, ordinarily signifying a knight. See Knight. The word is formed of the French cheval, "horse;" and the barbarous Latin cavallus.

It is used, in heraldry, to signify any cavalier, or horseman armed at all points; by the Romans called cataphractus eques: now out of use, and only to be seen in coat-armour.

CHEVAUX de FRISE. See Cheval de Frise.