quintain

Jousting practice dummy

A quintain is a post or dummy used as a target for jousting practice, typically mounted with a pivoting crossbar—one end holding a shield to strike, the other a sandbag that swings around to hit riders who fail to pass quickly.

The word extends to any similar training target: He charged the quintain repeatedly until his aim improved.

Also a verse form of five lines.

jousting

tiltyard

Jousting tournament grounds

lanceLong thrusting weapon
tiltAngular deviation from level
knightHonored mounted soldier

armor · tournament · charger · courser · barding · squire · heraldry · chivalry · gallantry · melee

training

dummy

Lifelike substitute figure

practiceRepeated work toward mastery
targetObject of pursuit
rotationTurning on an axis

swing · shield · sandbag · counterweight · pivot · arm · post · strike · timing · horsemanship

poetry

verse

Metered poetic passage

stanzaPoem's line grouping
rhymeMatching terminal sounds
balladNarrative poem or song

couplet · meter · rhythm · troubadour · minstrel · chanson · lai · canso · courtly

Opposites

opponent type in combat training

quintainsparring partner

Practice combat opponent

combat realism

quintainmelee

Disordered group skirmish

mortal combat · war

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G