a post or target set up for tilting exercises for mounted knights or foot soldiers
2.
the exercise of tilting at such a target
Word origin
C14: from Old French quintaine, from Latin: street in a Roman camp between the fifth and sixth maniples, from quintus fifth
quintain in American English
(ˈkwɪntɪn)
noun
an object supported by a crosspiece on a post, used by knights as a target in tilting
Word origin
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