arch. [a ME. (= the OF.) form of QUAINTISE, ‘quaint device, ingenious ornament,’ appropriated to a special sense by modern writers on ancient costume, historical novelists, etc. (Some Dicts. have an erroneous form cointoise.)]
An elegant or fanciful dress, symbolical or ornamental apparel; esp. the pendant scarf worn on ladies’ head-dresses, and also affixed to the jousting-helmets of knights, as a ‘favor.’ See QUAINTISE.
1834. Planché, Brit. Costume, 93. This latter is called a quintis or cointise, a name given to a peculiarly fashioned gown or tunic of that day. Ibid., 94. The scarf afterwards worn round the crest of the helmet was called a cointise.
1843. G. P. R. James, Forest Days (1847), 181. The beautiful scarfs, called cointises, then lately introduced.
