Destrier (from which the Modern English spelling derives). The word is also found in medieval Provençal (as "destrier") and Italian (as "destriere", "destriero"). These forms themselves derived from the Vulgar Latin "equus dextarius", meaning "right-sided horse" (from "dextra", "right hand", the same root as "dexterous" and "dexterity"). This may refer to it being led by the squire at the knight's right side (or led by the right hand) or to the horse's gait, (possibly leading with the right). The word "destrier" does not refer to a breed, but to a "type" of horse: the finest and strongest warhorse. These horses were
A Knight for a Day and Sir Cumference, the black knight, with a sportscaster-like announcer calling the action of the battle. The prize for this contest is the right to marry Princess Esmeralda. Due to a pre-bout accident, Sir Loinsteak is knocked out, leaving his sappy yet clever squire, Cedric, to take his place in the tournament. While Sir Cumference dominates the inexperienced simpleton early on, Cedric's clever and unorthodox improvisations tip the scales in the youth's favor. Finally after an assault with his lance, sword and mace, Sir Cumference collapses from exhaustion and Cedric wins by default. Princess Esmeralda leaps to her new fiancé