A so-called carpet knight was a person who had been awarded a title of knighthood by the king of England on a holiday occasion (or in time of peace),[1] as opposed to knighthoods awarded for military service, or success in tournament games.
Notes and Queries explained in 1862:
Philip Massinger in his play The Maid of Honour, written in the 1620s, mentioned "loose Carpet-knights" who lived comfortably and "thought to charge, through dust and blood, an armed foe, Was but like graceful running at the ring, For a wanton mistress' glove".[2]