Quintain

Quintain

:"For the type of poem, see Cinquain, for the band, see Quintaine Americana"

Quintain (O. Fr. "quintaine", from Lat. "quintana", a street between the fifth and sixth maniples of a camp, where warlike exercises took place), was a war game (or hastilude) during the Middle Ages which involved striking a wooden target with a weapon, on foot or horseback. The term was also used for the instrument (or target) itself, and could be used to practice for the joust.

Originally perhaps the mere trunk of a tree upon which the knight practised his swordstrokes, as may be seen in an ancient illustration, a post-quintain was generally about 6 feet high.

As late as the 18th century running at the quintain survived in English rural districts. In one variation of the pastime the quintain was a tun filled with water, which, if the blow was a poor one, was emptied over the striker. A later form was a post with a cross-piece, from which was suspended a ring, which the horseman endeavoured to pierce with his lance while at full speed. This sport, called tilting at the ring, was very popular in England and on the continent of Europe in the 17th century and is still practised as a feature of military and equestrian sport.

References

*1911

See also

* Jousting
* Tent pegging
* Giostra della Quintana
* [http://www.quintana.it/ Official Giostra della Quintana website (select the language)]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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}.] [1913 Webster] Note: A common form in the Middle Ages was an upright post, on the top …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quintain — (n.) c.1400 (in Anglo Latin from mid 13c.), from O.Fr. quintaine or directly from M.L. quintana, perhaps from L. quintana fifth (see QUINQUE (Cf. quinque )), the name of the business part of a camp, on the supposition that this was where military …   Etymology dictionary

  • quintain — [kwin′tin] n. [ME qwaintan < OFr quintaine < ML quintana < L quintana (via), street in a Roman camp separating the fifth maniple from the sixth (later, marketplace) < quintanus, of the fifth < quintus, fifth: see QUINTET] an object …   English World dictionary

  • quintain — /kwin tn/, n. 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. [1400 50; late ME quyntain object for tilting at < MF… …   Universalium

  • quintain — /ˈkwɪntən/ (say kwintuhn) noun 1. (during the Middle Ages and later) a post, or an object mounted on a post, for tilting at as a knightly or other exercise. 2. such exercise or sport. {Middle English quyntain, from Old French quintaine, from… …  

  • quintain —   n. object, or target, tilted at; tilting at quintain …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • Quintain Estates and Development — Infobox Company company name = Quintain Estates and Development company company type = Public (lse|QED) foundation = 1992 location = London, UK key people = John Plender, Chairman Adrian Wyatt, CEO industry = Property products = revenue = £43.4… …   Wikipedia

  • quintain — noun Etymology: Middle English quintaine, from Anglo French, perhaps from Latin quintana street in a Roman camp separating the fifth maniple from the sixth where a market was held, from feminine of quintanus fifth in rank, from quintus fifth Date …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • quintain — noun The street in a Roman military camp separating the fifth and sixth manipels The quintana was commonly used for exercices See Also: quintile, quintuplicate …   Wiktionary

  • Quintain — An object attached to a pole and used as a target by jousters with a lance, to train in accuracy. The target was attached to an arm which revolved when struck; the arm would spin and if struck inaccurately might hit the tyro en passant. [< Lat …   Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases

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