cniht

Didn't OE cniht originally just mean something akin to 'dude?'

Horses in seventh-century England Carla 2008

Nis in al þis kine {} lond {;}   cniht swa muchel ne swa strong.

Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 Part I: Texts Joseph Hall

Ich ileue þe cniht {;}   þ̵ þu me sugge soð {} riht.

Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 Part I: Texts Joseph Hall

Þo answerede {;} Keþereh {;}   cniht mid þe wisest. he was þe beste latimer {;}   þat euere wone [de] her.

Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 Part I: Texts Joseph Hall

Knight is not always knightly, for Anglo-Sax. cniht means servant; cf.

The Romance of Names Ernest Weekley 1909

Berserkers with his handful of armed servants if the old cniht had not restrained him almost by force; when he spent his breath in railing at everything between earth and sky.

The Ward of King Canute; a romance of the Danish conquest 1893

He was a stout white-bearded old cniht with an obstinate old face that looked something like a ruddy apple in a snow-bank.

The Ward of King Canute; a romance of the Danish conquest 1893

At an almost imperceptible sign from the old cniht, the henchmen made a noiseless step nearer their master.

The Ward of King Canute; a romance of the Danish conquest 1893

Motioning them from his path, he was starting forward a second time, when the old cniht laid a hand lightly upon his shoulder.

The Ward of King Canute; a romance of the Danish conquest 1893

Sebert's frank face betrayed his surprise at the complaisance, but he gave his pledge and his thanks with what courtliness he could muster, and releasing his passive prisoner, pushed her gently into the safe-keeping of the old cniht.

The Ward of King Canute; a romance of the Danish conquest 1893