v. & n.
--v.
1. intr. & tr. assume or cause to assume a sloping position; heel over.
2 intr. (foll. by at) strike, thrust, or run at, with a weapon, esp. in jousting.
3 intr. (foll. by with) engage in a contest.
4 tr. forge or work (steel etc.) with a tilt-hammer.
--n.
1. the act or an instance of tilting.
2 a sloping position.
3 (of medieval knights etc.) the act of charging with a lance against an opponent or at a mark, done for exercise or as a sport.
4 an encounter between opponents; an attack esp. with argument or satire (have a tilt at).
5 tilt-hammer.
Phrases and idioms:
full (or at full) tilt
1. at full speed.
2 with full force. tilt-hammer a heavy pivoted hammer used in forging. tilt-yard hist. a place where tilts (see sense 3 of n.) took place.
Derivatives:
tilter n.
Etymology: ME tilte perh. f. an OE form rel. to tealt unsteady f. Gmc: weapon senses of unkn. orig.