chanson de geste
/ˌʃɒ̃sɒ̃ də ˈʒɛst
/ /ʃɑ̃sɔ̃də ʒɛst/noun (plural chansons de geste pronounced same)
A medieval French historical verse romance.Of the three groups of French chansons de geste concerned with Charlemagne, only the first, the geste du roi, is represented in English, in such romances as Otuel, Sir Ferumbras, and The Sege of Melayne....
- Much of the early evidence derives from literary sources, such as the chansons de geste.
- In a continental redaction of the chanson de geste devoted to the English hero Bevis of Hampton-Bueve de Hantone in Old French-we find the term still used in the precise sense of port side.
Origin
French, literally 'song of heroic deeds', from chanson 'song' (see chanson) and geste from Latin gesta 'actions, exploits', from gerere 'perform'.