joust

[joust, juhst, joost] /dʒaʊst, dʒʌst, dʒust/
noun
1.
a combat in which two knights on horseback attempted to unhorse each other with blunted lances.
2.
this type of combat fought in a highly formalized manner as part of a tournament.
3.
jousts, tournament.
4.
a personal competition or struggle.
verb (used without object)
5.
to contend in a joust or tournament.
6.
to contend, compete, or struggle:
The candidates will joust in a television debate.
Also, just.
Origin
1250-1300; (v.) Middle English justen, jousten < Old French juster, joster, jouster to tilt in the lists < Vulgar Latin *juxtāre to approach, clash, derivative of Latin juxtā approaching, bordering; (noun) Middle English juste, jouste < Old French juste, etc., derivative of juster
Related forms
jouster, noun
Examples from the web for joust
  • The restaurant surrounds a large arena where knights joust on horses and sword-fight while the audience cheers.
  • They were there to joust, wear fantastic costumes, feast and womanise.
  • So, with little of substance to joust over, lawmakers have been turning their attention to some less urgent matters.
  • Armored knights on stallions joust about the arena below.
  • During the rut, the males joust by bringing their antlers together and pushing.
  • He had set out to look for adventure-perhaps a joust or a dragon or a damsel in distress needing a rescue.
British Dictionary definitions for joust

joust

/dʒaʊst/
noun
1.
a combat between two mounted knights tilting against each other with lances. A tournament consisted of a series of such engagements
verb
2.
(intransitive; often foll by against or with) to encounter or engage in such a tournament: he jousted with five opponents
Derived Forms
jouster, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French jouste, from jouster to fight on horseback, from Vulgar Latin juxtāre (unattested) to come together, from Latin juxtā close
Word Origin and History for joust
v.

c.1300, "fight with a spear or lance on horseback with another knight; tilt in a tournament," from Old French joster "to joust, tilt," from Vulgar Latin *iuxtare "to approach, come together, meet," originally "be next to," from Latin iuxta "beside, near," related to iungere "join together" (see jugular). Formerly spelled, and until modern times pronounced, "just." Related: Jousted; jousting.

n.

c.1300, from Old French joustes, from joster (see joust (v.)). The sport was popular with Anglo-Norman knights.

These early tournaments were very rough affairs, in every sense, quite unlike the chivalrous contests of later days; the rival parties fought in groups, and it was considered not only fair but commendable to hold off until you saw some of your adversaries getting tired and then to join in the attack on them; the object was not to break a lance in the most approved style, but frankly to disable as many opponents as possible for the sake of obtaining their horses, arms, and ransoms. [L.F. Salzman, "English Life in the Middle Ages," Oxford, 1950]