equites: Meaning and Definition of

eq•ui•tes

Pronunciation: (ek'wi-tēz"), [key]
— n.pl. Rom. Hist.
  1. mounted military units; cavalry.
  2. members of a specially privileged class derived from the ancient Roman cavalry and having status intermediate between those of senatorial rank and the common people.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.