Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: α. 5–6 quyn-, 6 quintayne, 6–7 -aine, 6– quintain; 5 qwaintan, 7 quintan(e, whinta(i)ne; 7 quinten. β. 5 quyntyne, 6 -ine, 6–8 quintine, 7, 9 -in. γ. 7 quintel(l, -al, -il. [a. OF. quintaine, -tene, -tine, etc. (see Godef.) = Prov., It. quintana, med.L. quintana, -tena; usually regarded as identical with L. quintāna the market and business-place of a camp (f. quintus fifth, sc. maniple), on the supposition that military exercises may have been practised there.] A stout post or plank, or some object mounted on such a support, set up as a mark to be tilted at with lances or poles, or thrown at with darts, as an exercise of skill for horsemen or footmen; also, the exercise or sport of tilting, etc., at such a mark.
The actual form of the quintain, and the object of the sport, varied considerably. In some cases the post or block had to be struck so as to break the lance; in others the quintain consisted of a revolving figure, or a bar weighted with a sand-bag, which swung round and struck the unskilful tilter. In the middle ages tilting at the quintain was a common knightly exercise; in the 17–18th c. it is mentioned as a favorite country sport at weddings.
[a. 1259. Matth. Paris, Cron. Maj. (Rolls), V. 367. Eodem tempore (an. 1253) juvenes Londinenses, statuto pavone pro bravio, ad stadium quod quintena vulgariter dicitur, vires proprias et equorum cursus sunt experti.]
α. c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1627. Somur qwenes and qwaintans, & oþer qwaint gamnes.
c. 1450. Merlin, 133. After mete was the quyntayne reysed.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 530. Than Hector caused a faire quintayne to be pyght vp in the myddes of the cyte: and therat ran these yonge knyghtes, brekynge and sheueringe of theyr speres.
1611. Cotgr., Quintaine, a Quintane (or Whintane) for countrey youthes to runne at.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. IV. Keelpins,… quintans,… which are the common recreations of country folkes.
1693. Lond. Gaz., No. 2845/2. This day there is to be a Carousel, viz. Running at the Quintain and the Ring.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The custom is still retained in Shropshire, and some other counties, among the nuptial solemnities.—He that breaks most poles against the quintain, has the prize.
1814. Scott, Chivalry (1874), 26. Making him ride a career against a wooden figure holding a buckler called a quintaine.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 26 July, 10/1. This quintain [at Offham, Kent] (said to be the only surviving specimen in England).
β. c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 421/1. Quyntyne, quirinarium.
1530. Palsgr., 178. Bersault, a quyntine.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 21. Before the Castl … whear az waz pight a cumly quintine for featz at armz.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., s.v., A Quintin … is set fast in the ground in the Highway, where the Bride and Bridegroom are to pass.
1707. Hearne, Collect. (O. H. S.), I. 334. Sports on the Sabbath amongst which the Quintine.
1885. J. Payn, Talk of Town, I. 137. That ancient game the quintin.
γ. 1617. Minsheu, Ductor, A Quintaine, or Quintell, a game in request at marriages, when Jac and Tom, Dic, Hob, and Will, striue for the gay garland.
1644. Quarles, Sheph. Orac., vi. Harmless sports … And ceremonious Quintils, that belongs To Shepheard’s rural mirth.
1677. Plot, Oxfordsh., 200. Running at the Quinten,… or Quintel.
b. transf. or fig.
1598. Bp. Hall, Sat., IV. iv. 32. Paune thou no gloue … Nor make thy Quintaine others armed head.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., I. ii. 263. That which here stands vp Is but a quintine, a meere liuelesse blocke.
1641. Earl Monm., trans. Biondi’s Civil Warres, I. 20. Imagining himself to bee … the only quintan those lances addressed themselves against.
1694. S. Johnson, Notes Past. Lett. Bp. Burnet, I. 98. [It] was afterwards set up by it self for a Countrey Quintin, to be thrown at by all the Loyal Sparks of the Nation.
c. attrib., as quintain-knight, -post.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 46. Her quintine knights, & proper bickerings of the Couentree men.
1857. Trollope, Barchester T., III. 31. The quintain post stood … before him.
Hence † Quintaining, riding at the quintain.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 24. Theez ryderz … leaft thear quintining, and ran one at anoother.
