An archaic or obsolete term for a horse, knight, or cavalry soldier, possibly from Spanish or medieval sources.
Possibly from Spanish 'caballo' (horse) or Old French 'cabal'; appears in medieval English texts but the exact origin is debated, suggesting it may derive from Romance language influences or Crusade-era military terminology.
Medieval English borrowed horse-related words from Romance languages constantly because horses were such important military technology—the vocabulary of warfare was basically multicultural due to constant international conflicts and alliances.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.