QUINTAIN


Meaning of QUINTAIN in English

[ 'kwɪntɪn ]

■ noun historical a post set up as a mark in tilting with a lance, typically with a pivoted sandbag attached to strike an inexpert tilter.

Origin

ME: from OFr. ~e , perh. based on L. quintana , a street in a Roman camp separating the fifth and sixth maniples, where military exercises were performed (from quintus 'fifth').

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.