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quintain

quintain


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Quintain  \Quin"tain\,  n.  [F.  quintaine,  LL  quintana;  cf  W. 
  chwintan  a  kind  of  hymeneal  game.] 
  An  object  to  be  tilted  at  --  called  also  {quintel}.  [Written 
  also  {quintin}.] 
 
  Note:  A  common  form  in  the  Middle  Ages  was  an  upright  post 
  on  the  top  of  which  turned  a  crosspiece,  having  on  one 
  end  a  broad  board,  and  on  the  other  a  sand  bag.  The 
  endeavor  was  to  strike  the  board  with  the  lance  while 
  riding  under  and  get  away  without  being  hit  by  the 
  sand  bag.  ``But  a  quintain,  a  mere  lifeless  block.'' 
  --Shak.