quintain

[ kwin-tn ]

noun

1. an object mounted on a post or attached to a movable crossbar mounted on a post, used as a target in the medieval sport of tilting.
2. the sport of tilting at a quintain.

quintain

/ ˈkwɪntɪn /

noun

1. a post or target set up for tilting exercises for mounted knights or foot soldiers
2. the exercise of tilting at such a target

Word History and Origins

Origin of quintain¹

1400–50; late Middle English quyntain object for tilting at < Middle French quintaine or Medieval Latin quintāna, of obscure origin; the alleged connection with Latin quīntāna “market place in a military camp” is dubious

Word History and Origins

Origin of quintain¹

C14: from Old French quintaine, from Latin: street in a Roman camp between the fifth and sixth maniples, from quintus fifth

Example Sentences

At Quintain Living's Canada Gardens building in Wembley there is an area of allotments beds.

From BBC

Next to Wembley Stadium, Quintain is developing what will be the largest BTR project in the UK, with over 5,000 homes.

From BBC

At present the field was only used as a practice-ground for tilting, so a quintain had been erected at one end and a ring at the other.

From Literature

The quintain was a wooden Saracen on a pole.

From Literature

He was also sore about the shoulders and had a burning ear, from making bosh shots at the quintain— for, of course, practice tilting was done without armour.

From Literature

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