chevalier (n.)

late 14c. (c. 1200 as a surname), "mounted knight, armed horseman of noble birth," from Anglo-French chivaler "mounted knight," Old French chevalier "knight, horseman, knight in chess" (12c., Modern French chevaler), from Late Latin caballarius "horseman" (source of Provençal cavallier, Spanish caballero, Portuguese cavalleiro, Italian cavaliere; see cavalier (n.)). The word was nativized in Middle English ("chevaleer"), but has been given a French pronunciation since 16c.