Accolade

Accolade, an essential part of the ceremony by which knighthood was and is conferred. Originally, the grand-master of the order, in receiving the neophyte, embraced him by folding the arms round the neck (ad collum). Later, a blow was given with the fist or the flat of a sword (perhaps as the last the knight should suffer to pass unavenged). Now, the sovereign gives the accolade by laying a drawn sword on the shoulders of the kneeling knight-elect, and bids him rise, addressing him with 'Sir' prefixed to his Christian name. See KNIGHT.