joust

views updated May 29 2018

joust / joust/ • v. [intr.] [often as n.] (jousting) hist. (of a medieval knight) engage in a sports contest in which two opponents on horseback fight with lances. ∎ fig. compete closely for superiority: the guerrillas jousted for supremacy.• n. a medieval sports contest in which two opponents on horseback fought with lances.DERIVATIVES: joust·er n.

joust

views updated May 18 2018

joust sb. XIII. —OF. j(o)uste, f. juster (mod. jouter) bring together, engage on horseback
(whence joust vb. XIII) :- Rom. *juxtāre come together, encounter, f. L. juxtā near together, rel. to jugum YOKE, jungere JOIN.