Quint'ain, n.

(42), n. [Fr. quintaine, Pr., It., & L. Lat. quintana. Cf. W. chwintan, a kind of hymeneal game.] An object to be tilted at. [Written also quintel and quintin.] It was sometimes the figure of a man, and often an upright post, on the top of which turned a cross-piece, on one end of which was fixed a broad board, and on the other a sand-bag. The play was to tilt or ride against the broad end with a lance, and pass without being struck by the sand-bag behind. “But a quintain, a mere lifeless block.” Shak.