quintain etymology

Etymology: Old French: quintaine Late Latin: quintana (a military exercise) Latin: quintus (fifth)

Meaning: A heavy post or stake driven into the ground and used as a target for tilting by medieval knights, with a shield attached to the post that rotated when struck.

Origin: The word "quintain" originally referred to a Roman military exercise in which young soldiers practiced charging at a post with a shield attached, honing their skills in aiming and thrusting. The exercise was known as "quintana", derived from "quintus", meaning "fifth", as it was often the fifth part of a training regimen.

Over time, the term "quintain" came to be used more specifically for a knightly sport, in which knights on horseback or foot would aim their lances at the rotating shield of a wooden post. The shield would swing back and forth, and if the knight failed to hit it, he could be struck by the shield on his way back.

Quintains were popular during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and served as a challenging and entertaining amusement for knights and nobles. They also had a practical purpose in training knights for battle, as they improved their accuracy and coordination in delivering a thrust.

quintain relate terms

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