Eques

Lat. A knight.

Spelman. 1 Bl. Com. 404.

So called because serving on horseback. Id. ibid. Eques auratus; a knight, so called from the gilt spurs he wore. Id. ibid. Spelman, who himself bore this title, says its object was to distinguish one who had been created a knight with due ceremony (ritu honorario institutum) from one who merely assumed the title. According to Cowell, it is never used in law, miles (q. v.) being the proper word.