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Definition of "quintain" []

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

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "quintain" in a sentence
  • "It is the custom to hoist married men, who are not blest with children, on the quintain, which is made to revolve rapidly."
  • "Then when the carols were ended, the ladies and maidens sat down on the green grass and fresh flowers, and the squires set up a game of tilting called quintain upon the meadows and played till even-song; and then Merlin came to the damsel and asked if he had done what he promised for her."
  • "ThQ catching at the apple and, at lead, puts one in mind of the ancient of the quintain, which is now almoft forgot - nd of which a defcription may be found in s Survey of London."