quintain

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“
It is the custom to hoist married men, who are not blest with children, on the quintain, which is made to revolve rapidly.

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Definitions (5)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun A post or an object mounted on a post, used as a target in tilting exercises.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (3)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • His performance at quintain was respectable enough, because he could influence horses with his talent. —  Julian, May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon
  • "I am going to learn the quintain," the child yelled. —  Garwood, Julie - Gentle Warrior
  • The quintain was an exercise that the older squires preferred, and too dangerous for one as small as the child standing in front of him. —  Garwood, Julie - Gentle Warrior
  • This is called a quintain post and stands in the center of the village green. —  British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car Being A Record Of A Five Thousand Mile Tour In England, Wales And Scotland
  • The more ancient sports of quintain, on land and water, morris dancing, quarterstaff, archery, and such like, were all familiar enough. —  For the Faith
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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English quintaine, from Old French, probably from Latin quīntāna (via), fifth (street in a Roman camp, supposedly used for military exercises), from quīntus, fifth; see penkwe in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Formerly also quinten, quintin; from Middle English quyntayne, qwaintan, from Old French quintaine, cuintaine, etc., feminine, a quintain, French quintaine = Provencal Italian quintana, from Middle Latin quintana, a quintain, also a part of a street where carriages could pass, from Latin quintana, a street in a camp, between the fifth and sixth maniples, where were the market and forum of the camp, and, it is supposed, the place of martial exercises, etc., whence the Middle Latin use; feminine (sc. via) of quintanus, fifth: see quintan.
  2. Latin quintanus, of the fifth. See quintain.
 

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/ˈkwɪnteɪn/
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