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Attaint

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A term in chivalry, meaning to strike the helmet and shield of an antagonist so firmly with the lance, held in a direct line, as either to break the lance or overthrow the person struck. Hence to “attaint of treason,” etc.

“Attaint was a term of tilting, used to express the champion’s having attained his mark, or, in other words, struck his lance straight and fair against the helmet or breast of his adversary.”—Sir Walter Scott: The Monastery (note).

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Atlantic Ocean
Atlantis
Atlas
Atman
Atomic Philosophy
Atomic Theory
Atomic Volume
Atomic Weight
Atossa
Atrip
Attaint
Attercop
Attic Bee (The)
Attic Bird (The)
Attic Boy (The)
Attic Faith
Attic Muse (The)
Attic Order
Attic Salt
Attic Science
Attics, Attic Storey